Mrs. Estelle Ann Park Bayer
Mrs. Estelle Ann Park Bayer, 72, the wife of Benjamin J. Bayer, passed away early Wednesday morning, May 27, 2020.
Estelle was born on Goggins Lane at Highland Farm on July 14, 1947. She was the daughter of Forniss R. Park and the late Maude Ella Parke Park. Her grandparents were Karl Simpson and Ann Laura Irby Park and Walker J. and Stella Hockady Parke. Estelle graduated from Model Laboratory School in 1965. After graduation she received degrees from Georgetown College, Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky. All of her degrees were earned in teaching English and Classical Language of Latin.
She began her teaching career at Brentwood Middle/High School in St. Louis, Missouri from 1970 to 1972. She moved back to Kentucky and taught at Madison Central High School from 1978 to 2011. She retired in 2011 after 35 years as a Latin Teacher. During her career she received The Kentucky World Language Association's Lifetime Achievement Award, Richmond Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year, Ashland Oil Golden Apple Achiever Award and American Classical League Merita Award. In 2012 she was inducted into the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame at Western Kentucky University. After her retirement, Estelle shared her love of all things Roman by teaching Latin Enrichment classes in various middle schools in Madison County.
Mrs. Bayer was also involved in the community. She was politically active and was elected President of The Madison County Democrat Woman's Club. In 2020 she received the clubs lifetime member award. She had also served on the Madison County Board of Elections and was currently serving as a board member of The EKU Center for the Arts. She and her family are members of The First Baptist Church of Richmond.
Survivors include her husband Ben; her father: Forniss R. Park; two daughters: Laura Brown Dedic (Kenny) and Frances Park Bayer (Ben Hoverter) and three grandchildren: Natalie Brown Dedic, Tyler Benjamin Dedic and Maudella Sword Bayer; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, June 1, 2020 at The First Baptist Church with Rev. Bill Wright and Rev. Laney Mofield officiating. You may view this service via a Live-Stream Webcast. Private family interment will be in the Richmond Cemetery.
Pallbearers are: Kenny Dedic, Ben Hoverter, Karl Park, Mike Park, Steve Parke and Harold Kaylor.
Honorary Pallbearers are: The Madison County Retired Teacher's Lunch Bunch and The Members of The Madison County Democrat Woman's Club.
Donations may be made to Hospice Compassionate Care Center or the scholarship funds of The Madison County Democrat Woman's Club, Model Laboratory School or Madison Central High School.
The Combs, Parsons & Collins Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.