Wanda Ione Moyer was born July 14, 1920, in Torrington, Wyoming to Edson and Fern Estes Moyer. This year will be her 90th birthday and as far as we can determine, is the oldest living member of Joel Estes' descendants. She is a third great granddaughter of Joel and Patsy and a descendant of Francis Marion, 12th child of Joel and Patsy.
She has two daughters - Ronda Pratt (Dean) of Spokane Washington and Dallas Hincks of Boise, Idaho, four grandchildren Kerry Toney (David) of Spokane, Kyla, Karisa and Dakota Hincks of Boise, and four great grand daughters, Cynthia, Alyssa and Callie Toney and Abigail Haynes.
As with many Estes, she spent her early years moving, mostly up and down the Platte River valley from Torrington to Kearney and all stops in between. The frequent changes in towns and schools made her an adaptable and friendly person that has stood her in good stead. She survived the Depression with a struggle as did most of the people around her. She remembers with embarrassment yet, having a school physical, which required her to remove her sweater to reveal her only and too small dress which was split up the back. She also remembers days of blowing black dust and a kindly neighbor who came to take them in with his family so they wouldn’t be alone.
The thirties were also the time of the big bands and Wanda loved to dance. Even after working a 12-hour day, she would be off to the Saturday night dance. She said even the young ones would have a dance and set out a couple. This is Nebraska in the summer before any air conditioning.
She was always an avid reader until macular degeneration has robbed her of her sight.
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She graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1939 and the same month married Harold Millsap of Torrington.
During the draft of World War II, Harold changed from working on the railroad to farming with his father north of Torrington and then began the city girl’s 16-year stint as a farm wife.
Harold was killed in a train accident at Holly Sugar Factory in 1957. This left her a widow with young girls, Ronda and Dallas, to raise.
In May of 1962, she married Mike R. McKelvey and they lived in Torrington until Mike retired from the Wyoming Highway Department and they moved to Mesa, Arizona for 16 years. They enjoyed traveling and motor biking.
Mother loved to play pinochle and bowl and had a mean eye as a pool player.
As a small girl, she almost drown but was rescued by someone grabbing her by her long hair. In Arizona, she overcame her fear and learned to swim.
As Mike’s health started to deteriorate they returned to Torrington where he died in 1997.
With failing eyesight, Mother decided to move to Spokane, Washington to be near her oldest daughter, Ronda.
She is currently residing at Royal Plaza Retirement Center, 302 E. Wedgewood, Spokane, WA 99208. Her phone is 509-484-5593 if anyone would care to call and wish her well.
