Esther A. Harper

Esther Adele Harper (Morris), 97, passed onto eternal life July 14, leaving a legacy of kindness and cherished memories for her family members.

The daughter of Russell and Evangeline Morris, Esther was born on July 11, 1929, in Shadyside, Ohio. She graduated as the valedictorian from Shadyside High School in 1947 and studied chemistry at Kent State University in Canton, which was housed in Canton’s McKinley High School. Following the death of her mother, however, Esther, ended her studies to attend to her father. She later completed an associate degree in Kent State in the 1970s.

While studying in Canton, Esther met her future husband Robert (Bob) Harper, a student at John Carroll University in Cleveland. They married at Saint Joseph Church in Canton in June 1952. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Virginia Beach, VA, while Bob completed a year of military service at Fort Eustis. They then returned to Canton. A few years later, Bob founded Stark Tax Service, with Esther managing the business’ bookkeeping while caring for their growing household of six children. She continued in this role into her 80s while her son, Philip, owned the business.

In 1958, the family moved to North Canton. Esther remained in the family home on Cornell Avenue until she moved to The Inn at Belden Village in 2017.

Esther is survived by her six children, John (Roni) Harper of Silver Spring, MD; Philip Harper of Plain Township; Steven (Barbara) Harper of Baltimore, MD; Lisa (Stephen) Wright of Severn, MD; Amy (Don) Shilling of Canfield, OH; Julie Harper of Kalispell, MT; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Robert; her brother, Daniel Morris; her sister, Ruth Anne Johnson; her son-in-law, Joe Henderson; and daughter-in-law, Bokim Bower.

Esther loved reading, birdwatching, keeping up with current events and sharing her Christian beliefs that were so important to her formative years in Shadyside. She also loved maintaining close contact with her family and delighted in visits with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank her many caregivers at The Inn at Belden Village and Aultman Hospice for their kindness and compassion. We are especially grateful to her caregiver Tylena and her infant son who helped Esther feel young remembering how much she loved being a mother.

In her final days, a caregiver praised Esther for her “softness,” an accurate description for a loving mother and grandmother who always put others first.