Esta Mae Burgess, age 87, a resident of Portland, passed away on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.

Esta was born January 20, 1939, in Deerfield, Indiana, the daughter of Robert “Bob” and Erta “Mert” (Stauffer) Spencer. She graduated from Portland High School in 1957 and worked as a switchboard operator at Jay County Hospital, salesperson for Avon and Evans Fine Jewelry in Portland. She will be remembered as a loving and caring person with a kind heart and gentle spirit. She especially enjoyed babysitting and caring for children. She also loved traveling with her husband to visit their children and grandchildren, and those special times together meant so much to her. The memories she created with her family and friends will be cherished for years to come.

Esta married Wilbur “Sonny” Burgess on June 1, 1957 and he passed away on May 28, 2022.

Survivors include:

Her children: Jeffery Burgess (wife Carrie) – Madison, WI

Lucinda “Cindy” Jackson (husband Donald) – Sumter, SC

Sister: Edna Wall – Portland, Indiana

Sister-in-law: Maggie Spencer

4 grandchildren: Andrew Burgess, Erik Burgess, Daniel Jackson and Nathanael Jackson.

2 great-grandchildren: Helen Grace Jackson and Luke Jackson

Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home in Portland. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home in Portland. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Pastor Kevin McClung will officiate and burial will follow at Green Park Cemetery in Portland.

Memorials may be directed towards Riley Hospital for Children or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.