Esther Flatt

August 27, 2007

Esther Flatt was born January 8, 1916 in Anita, Iowa. She was the second of seven children born to William and Esther (Petit) McIntyre. She had three brothers: Russ, Don, and Jim; and three sisters: Lois, Dorothy, and Bobbie. Esther graduated from Anita High School in 1934 and from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 1935 with a degree in dental hygiene. After graduation, Esther worked for two oral surgeons in Des Moines. She took a second job with the Des Moines school system where she would travel from school to school to check and clean children's teeth. She practiced her profession as a dental hygienist for 18 years. On May 30, 1950, Esther and Verlin Ivers Flatt of Des Moines were united in marriage at the Congregational Church in Anita. They lived in Des Moines for 2 1/2 years before moving to Jefferson where Verne owned and operated an auto dealership, Flatt Chevrolet. Verne and Esther had 2 children: Cynthia Kay (Flatt) Deal and Jerrold Verlin Flatt. Esther was a wonderful homemaker, wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend. She was the #1 babysitter for her 3 grandchildren: Benji, Chris, and Rob. They gave her great joy and made her life complete. Esther was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson where she served on many committees, was a circle chairperson several times, and served on the Administrative Board. Esther loved playing cards and belonged to several bridge clubs. She was also active in Culture Club. She enjoyed music, loved to dance, and enjoyed watching sports: both U of I and ISU and the Jefferson-Scranton Rams (especially if her grandsons were involved). Other hobbies included tole painting, sewing, and working in her yard. She was happiest when spending time with her brothers and sisters, her children, her grandchildren or her friends. Esther died August 27, 2007 at the GCMC Long Term Care Unit in Jefferson, Iowa. Funeral services will be 10:30am Wednesday at Central Christian Church in Jefferson, with interment in the Jefferson Cemetery. Friends may call at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson after 1:00pm Tuesday. The family will visit with friends at the funeral home between 6:30 – 8:30pm Tuesday. She was preceded in death by her parents, William & Esther McIntyre of Anita, Iowa; her husband, Verlin Flatt of Jefferson, Iowa; a sister, Lois Thornton of Atlantic, Iowa; two brothers: Russell McIntyre of Omaha, Nebraska and Donald McIntyre of Fort Worth, Texas; and a step-son, Ron Flatt of Ames, Iowa. Survivors include: her daughter Cindy Deal and husband Jerald of Jefferson, Iowa; her son Dr. Jerry Flatt and Mandy Corliss of Des Moines, Iowa; two sisters: Dorothy Milligan of Urbandale, Iowa and Roberta Smith and husband Bud of Payson, Arizona; one brother, James McIntyre and wife Ruth of Anita, Iowa; three grandchildren: Benjamin Phillip Deal and wife Christy of Ames, Iowa; Christopher William Deal of Ames, Iowa; and Robert Matthew Deal of Ames, Iowa; one great-granddaughter, Abigail Marie Deal of Ames, Iowa; one step-daughter, Beverly Getz of Warriors Mark, Pennsylvania; several nieces and nephews and many friends.