Monday, April 30, 2018
I am Clay Hamlin, son of Elizabeth Murray Hamlin, known as "Betty'". She was Esther's best friend growing up.,Both born in 1916, I believe that they may have gone to high school together and were both in the top of their class. They went to different colleges, but remained very close, travelling to Europe together by ship in 1937, a year before the war with Germany broke out. This demonstrated their strength, self-sufficiency, courage and independence.
They remained closest friends and had great love and respect for each other forever. My mother became a teacher after college and she married Clay W. Hamlin Jr. in June of 1941. They lived at 53 Berkley Place in Buffalo, and had four children. And all of us got to meet Esther during our lives. She was a smart, positive, pretty and very proper lady and her affection with my mother and father (and us kids) was always obvious. My Mom was a housewife for many years, raising her children, but in the late 1960s she went back to school to get her Masters in reading and became a reading specialist in the Williamsville School District.
Esther and Betty remained very close for years. My father passed away in 2006 at the age of 91 and Betty lived alone after that and had great health and a sharp mind, excelling in Bridge and getting great pleasure from her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Betty Hamlin passed away peacefully in 2011 at the age of 95. I know Esther remained her best friend forever. They were stalwarts for each other and kept in touch, in spite of the distance between them.
My condolences on your great loss. They don't make women like this anymore!
Sincerely, Clay W. Hamlin III
