Esther Winfree Breathitt, Age 103
Passed Away on October 31, 2007

Esther Winfree Breathitt was born in Christian County, KY in 1904 and grew up in a family of ten children on a large farm outside of Hopkinsville, Ky. Her parents, Matthew and Mabel Winfree and six brothers, Forrest, Pat, George, Robert, Frank and S. T. and three sisters, Louise, Myra and Irene, all preceded her in death.

Esther attended a two room school house through eighth grade, graduated from Hopkinsville High School and Bethel Women's College.

Her business career began early as an executive secretary for a corporate attorney at One Wall Street in New York City as well as their later offices in Detroit and Miami. She worked for that firm for over twenty years.

In 1948, Esther was given the opportunity to become guardian to her deceased brother George's daughter, Penny, who had previously lost her mother after childbirth. She relocated to New Smyrna Beach, Fl. While raising Penny, she worked for local attorneys, an abstract office and was also a bookkeeper.

Esther has lived in Palm Beach County since the late 1960's. She married her childhood sweetheart, Charles Breathitt with whom she had worked with in her hometown in KY. His family had been prominent in Ky. politics, one cousin a Governor and one cousin a Lt. Governor. Charles passed away in 1989.

Family and friends remember Esther for her warmth, gentle nature, unconditional love, sense of humor and quick wit. Her life was blessed by her family and her many dear bridge friends, neighbors, Sunday school class and friends at The First United Methodist Church of Boynton Beach. She was a special aunt, mother, Gressa (grand Esther) or grandmother and friend. She will be missed by all the lives that she touched.

Survivors include: Penny Lopez and husband Richard, Burton Lopez, Angela Gordon, husband Fred and their children Nicole and Aaron and numerous other devoted nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held in Esther's honor on November 3, 2007 at 10am at Boynton Memorial Chapel, 800 W. Boynton Beach Blvd. Services will be conducted by Reverend Robert A. Hahn, Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Boynton Beach, Fl. and Greg Fitch, Chaplain, Hospice, PBC. Interment: Riverside Cemetery, Hopkinsville, Ky.

The family requests no flowers. Memorials may be sent to: Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, Fl 33407 or The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, PO Box 9995, Riviera Beach, Fl 33419.