Estella Pearl Hottel

Estella Pearl Hottel was born on June 29, 1931, in Chattanooga, OK, to the late Walter & Iune (Howell) Anderson. She passed away on Monday, January 20, 2025, in Norman, OK, at the age of 93 years, 6 months & 22 days. She and Charles Lindy Hottel met while attending Cameron College, in Lawton, OK. after Charles returned home from two years in the US Army serving in the Pacific theater conflict in Korea just after WWII. The two were later united in marriage, on November 8, 1952, in Chattanooga, OK. Charles preceded her in death on April 27, 2011.

Estella was a person who was both sweet and strong. Many have remarked that she was "one of nicest women you'll ever meet." "You've gotta be a tough Okie," she often said, with a wink, in her later years. Growing up, as a girl she loved the outdoors and especially liked watching horses run through the fields, but she couldn't spend much time outside due to allergies. Instead, she focused her energy on the home unlike her sister Norma who was the Tomboy who spent time outdoors, said Fine Anderson. Her warm and contagious smile and sense of hospitality to friends and family were known to all. She was very obligated, concerned, and supportive of her family all the time.

Estella and Charles started their married life in Liberty, TX (where their daughter Julie was born), and shortly after moved to Beaumont, TX where Estella earned her degree from Lamar University. They moved to Dimmitt, TX in 1958 (where their son Robert, aka Robby was born). Estella started her teaching career of 25 years teaching Home Economics in Dimmitt High School, with a new curriculum in consumer education in the later years. She was a beloved, popular teacher, open and curious about the world through her students' eyes. She often said her students taught her more than she taught them, and she collected stories and sayings that she shared throughout life. Some student quotes from Julie's classmates:

"She was one of my favorite teachers"

"A great role model when we were young ladies. Total class act!"

"I still do so many things I learned from her"

"I will never forget her. I still love to cook and sew! Her cinnamon rolls were to die for."

Estella was active in Delta Kappa Gamma, 4H programs, FHA, and taught Sunday school at 4th & Bedford Church of Christ, where they were members. They retired to Davis, OK in 1984 on the Hottel farm.

She was an expert in cooking, sewing, cleaning, and other labors of love for her family; she knew how to create a sense of order and stability. For example, in 1965/66 while she was pregnant with Robby she cross-stitched a large reproduction of a dairy farm sampler called "I Will Build Myself A Farm." It depicted barns, trees, and animals, and drew everyone's eye, displayed over the fireplace for generations. She was fashionable, dressing neatly and constructing many of her own stylish dresses from patterns, and her handcrafted quilts, pillows, and other home accessories were treasured gifts to family and friends. Her abilities and interests always brought warmth to her community and home.

The latter half of her life was spent in Oklahoma as a rancher's wife. When Robert and his wife Miranda moved back to Oklahoma from Taiwan and involved themselves in the cattle business here, Estella stayed very attentive to her family and home. She kept her house clean from the mud and manure that accompanies those in Farm & Ranch life, with a large, impressive laundry room in her house. Besides helping her husband and son with what she could, she also enjoyed seeing her three grandchildren grow up so close by, never hesitating to go to events and welcoming them anytime for a stay or a visit.

She is remembered for her kindness and service. She was an early riser, always greeting the day and completing tasks while others were still sleeping. Her grandchildren remember her breakfasts of multiple courses, with eggs, fruit, oatmeal, and bread all prepared uniquely for her individual loved ones. She made sure people were well fed, at her table, serving favorites like apple fritters, cheesecakes, pot roast, and fried catfish, to name a few. She was attentive to preferences and loved to go the extra mile.

Estella loved music. She was a long-standing fan of the Lawrence Welk Show and participated in the local Akomda club. She also had a soft spot for traditional lullabies and ditties, humming them as she worked. Hymns drew her, too, and she sang a capella in the Church of Christ with precision. Her faith in the Lord God was not showy, but it was foundational to her, and she looked forward to socializing at church lunches and taking her kids and grandkids to VBS.

"If it'd been a snake, it would've bit you," she'd laugh, when you finally found your lost keys or TV remote. "If it were an hour later it would've been even better," she'd joke as people sat down at her table and complimented the food. She loved colloquial sayings and always had one ready for the situation at hand. She was slow to anger, counseling everyone to stay patient and compassionate since you never knew what other people were going through. "Poor feller woke up on the wrong side of the bed," she might whisper, if someone was rude. "I'll give you an A+," she'd famously say, for praise. If you were stressed out, she'd try to take a problem off your hands. "Let me worry about this, and you can worry about something else," and "Take it as it comes, and do the best you can."

For 40 years, she'd write and send a Season's Greeting letter to her many friends and family. She annually closed the letter with the same salutation: To this day, the ancient world looks forward, to this day the future world looks back. This day holds time together. People can be similar to days, perhaps. Estella Pearl Hottel held time together, for her family and loved ones while they knew her, and always. She was a believer in Christ and we now joke that Charles would have probably said to her the other day in heaven, "What took you so long to get here?"

Those left to carry on the Anderson-Hottel legacy include one daughter, Julie Dewberry & husband John of Kingwood, TX; son, Robert Hottel & wife Miranda of Davis, OK; three grandchildren, Theresa Hottel, Samuella Hottel & Joshua Hottel; two step-grandchildren, Patrick Dewberry & Allison Dewberry; two step-great granddaughters, Taylor (Andrew) Hansen & Jordan DeMasters; and one step-great great granddaughter, Laramie Hansen. In addition to many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her parents and husband, Estella was preceded in death by one sister Norma Jaquess and one step-grandson, Chris Dewberry.

A private family graveside service was held Friday, January 31, 2025, at the Green Hill Cemetery in Davis, with Pastor Jeremy Berryhill of Ardmore, OK officiating with family members participating with prayers & readings. Estella was laid to rest alongside Charles in a family plot there.

A Celebration-Memorial time is being planned for later this year at the Central Church of Believers, 45 Shepherd Hills Rd, Sulphur, OK. Brother Thomas J. Thompson officiating.

Services were entrusted to HALE'S FUNERAL HOME, of Davis.

Online condolences may be offered at halesfuneralhomes.com