Esley Holwell

Esley Clara Childs Holwell was born on August 3, 1921 to Clifford and Ida (Kuemmerle) Childs on their homestead on Deep Creek south of Upton, Wyoming. She started school at 4 years of age so she could be with her older brother and sister. Esley graduated from Upton High School at the age of 16 and took normal training in Gillette to become a teacher later that year. She taught at two different country schools out of Gillette before becoming the teacher at the Thompson school south of Upton. Mom had great stories to tell about these years. Esley married Milton Holwell on June 9, 1946. They lived in Osage most of their married life with a brief stint in Colony, WY. After Dad retired from the bentonite plant, they bought a place in Newcastle above the fair grounds. Dad passed away in August, 1985. Mom continued to live in Newcastle where she volunteered at the visitors center and was a member of the Busy Beavers Woman's Club, Eastern Star, Rebekah's, and Pythian Sisters. She moved to Casper in April, 2003 where her daughter lived. Esley passed away New Years day at Meadow Wind Assisted Living where she had resided for the last 6 years. Esley is survived by her sister-in-law, Lydia Childs of Upton, her four children, Carlos (Cindy) of Ohio, Jenness (John) Stienmetz of Fort Laramie, WY, Casey (Rosa) of Arizona, and Carey (Mel) Hamilton of Casper, WY, eight grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren, 15 nieces and nephews and numerous cousins and other relatives. Esley was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Joe Childs and his wife Faye of Osage, sister Audrey Myers and her husband Bert of Florence, AZ, and brother, Lyndon Childs, of Upton. Memorial services will be held this spring at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD. Memorials may be made to the Newcastle Senior Center in her memory.