Esther Cockerham Muffett

A viewing will be on Saturday, March 16, 2019 from 10:00 AM until the time of service at 11:00 AM at Alsip and Persons Funeral Chapel, 404 10th Avenue South, Nampa, ID 83651.  Burial will conclude at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Caldwell. 

Esther was born in Corning, California on 6/11/1928 and went on to heaven early in the morning on March 12, 2019 at her home in Parma, Idaho with family near her side. Her parents were Anice Ursula (Clary) Cockerham, born in Bardley, Missouri and Clyde Edwin Cockerham, born in Pomeroy, Washington.

Esther and her parents and two sisters, Rachel (Cockerham) Knapp and Lois (Cockerham) Anderson moved to Nampa, Idaho in 1933. Esther, Rachel, Lois and two new siblings Clyde Cockerham, Jr. and Grace (Cockerham) Peirson who were both born in Nampa. All the kids went to school at the NNU Training School and Academy which later was moved from the NNU campus and became the Nampa Christian Schools.

Esther attended NNU and met Lee Muffett. They were married in March of 1951 in a double wedding with Esther’s sister Rachel and Glenn Knapp at Franklin Road Nazarene church which later became Karcher Nazarene Church. Esther and Lee moved to Crescent City, California where their son, Robert (Bob) Allen Muffett was born in February, 1954.

Lee and Esther later divorced and Esther and Bob moved to San Jose, California in 1960. Esther worked as a telephone operator, an electronic assembly technician and as a Certified Nurse Assistant. After Bob left home at age 18, Esther moved briefly to Tumwater, Washington with her parents and then she and her parents moved back to Nampa.

She worked as a Central Supply Technician at Mercy Medical Center and later as a CNA at several area care centers before she retired. After retirement, Esther moved to Port Townsend, Washington to be a caregiver for her mother and her aunt Thelma (Cockerham) Johnson. When she returned to Idaho, she moved into Parma Senior Housing and lived there until she passed away.

It was always her wish that her life would be a shining light to others. She wanted to inspire others to consider Crist’s invitation to come into their hearts to always be with them in the same way she had always been able to count on Him to be with her and guide her throughout her life. She has been an amazing example of faith and having a positive and loving outlook on life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Lois, her brother Clyde Jr., her son Bob, and her nephew Dennis Cockerham. She is survived by her sister Rachel (Cockerham) Knapp of Nampa and her sister Grace (Cockerham) Peirson of Port Townsend, Washington, many nieces and nephews, and grand nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

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