Esther Sarah Lilly Baer, née Graber, 94, passed from this life in the home of Gloria and Rolly Lumpkins, her daughter and son-in-law, surrounded by her loving Texas family.

Esther was born on August 26, 1925 in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania to the late Russell and Helen Graber, née Graver. After graduating from Liberty High School in 1944, Esther worked in Bethlehem at Laros Silk Mill and then at a bank.

She married the love of her life Charles Raymond Baer on February 21, 1948. The couple was blessed with four loving children: Gloria, Geoffrey, Kathleen, and Rita. While raising their family, Esther worked at Bethlehem Dairy Store, graduated from Allentown School of Cosmetology, and worked for several shops before opening her own business.

Esther opened her very own business, Esther's Beauty Shoppe, which she operated for 40 years on Millard Street until she retired. The couple then moved to a house on Drury Lane in Bethlehem.

Esther and Charles enjoyed spending time with family, and a shared a passion for square dancing, attending dances in Pennsylvania. The two also spent time traveling the US in their motor home and especially enjoyed touring the Hill Country of Texas. She was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Bethlehem.

Esther was a lifelong resident of Bethlehem until moving to Texas in October of 2019. Esther had a large family that included 4 children, 12 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; and her brother, Russell Graber; and her sister, Frances Baer, née Graber. She is survived by the following family members: daughter and son-in-law Gloria J. and Rolly Lumpkins of Mason, Texas; son and daughter-in-law Geoffrey C. and Gail Baer of Hellertown, Pennsylvania; daughter and son-in-law Kathleen I. and Keith Bidlow of Orlando, Florida; daughter and son-in-law Rita L. and David Fistner of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Twelve grandchildren: Wayne and Renee(granddaughter-in-law) Strohl, Bobby Lumpkins, Geoff and Wendy (granddaughter-in-law) Strohl, Steve (grandson-in-law) and Tammy (Lumpkins) Leifeste, Nicole Stauffer, Erin (Lumpkins) Jarrell, Michael (grandson-in-law) and Kristen (Baer) Schneider, Damien (grandson-in-law) and Jen (Baer) Kaufman, Jeremy Lumpkins, David and Kristin (granddaughter-in-law) Fistner, Jr., Chris (grandson-in-law) and Corey (Fistner) Young, and Kyle Fistner. Twenty-seven great-grandchildren: Sino (great-grandson-in-law) and Rebecca (Leifeste) Sustaita, Dallas Strohl, Autumn Stauffer-DeLong, Sara Leifeste, Quinn Strohl, Alyssa Leifeste, Kyle Lumpkins, Ryleigh Leifeste, Jaelynd DeJesus, Aidan Strohl, Ava Schneider, Brianna Baer, Kyla Lumpkins, Mason Strohl, JaKobe Jarrell, Joel Schneider, Madalynn Kaufman, Jayden Jarrell, Lyrick Greear, Abigail Kaufman, Emily Calhoun-Lumpkins, Eternity Greear, Kinleigh Fistner, DC Fistner, Lilly Young, and Foxx Koray. One great-great-grandchild: Zayden Sharp.

To quote the late Rev. Dr. William C. Fenstemacher, former pastor and longtime friend, "Whenever a loved one dies, our eyes are intently focused upon the present. The shock, the disbelief, the numbness, the questions, the assurances, the grief, consuming our energy and attention. Then we realize the reality of our loss, we turn our eyes on the past. Our thoughts are filled with the unfinished nature of it all. But in the past, we also find enduring memories. Memories of times shared, love exchanged, and hopes fulfilled." She will always be loved missed, and remembered, from Pennsylvania to Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Trinity UCC - 81 E North St, Bethlehem, PA 18018 and Hill Country Memorial Hospice – 808 Reuben St, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.