Esther R. Nissley, 97, formerly of Washington Boro passed into the presence of her Savior on Sunday, March 8, 2020 at Paramount Senior Living, Maytown. She was the wife of the late Charles K. Nissley to whom she was married for 67 years before he passed away in 2016. She was born in Lancaster, daughter of the late C. Roy and Alva Musser and the adopted daughter of the late Warren Kurtz and Mary Hank Radcliffe. Esther graduated from East Hempfield High School, Class of 1941, then Lancaster General Hospital School of Nursing in 1947. She was a member of the US Cadet Nurse Corps, an organization whose purpose was to alleviate the nursing shortage that existed during WWII. After marriage, she and Charles worked on a poultry farm in Washington Boro for several years. After that, she was the bookkeeper for their family custom spraying business until her retirement in 1989.
Esther is survive by four sons: C. Kenneth (Susan Hevner) Nissley, Darlington, SC; Richard A. (Susan Schock) Nissley, Elizabethtown; David K. (Lucille Funk) Nissley, Lancaster; and Craig E. (Kathleen Flannagan) Nissley, Columbia. Twelve grandchildren. Nineteen great-grandchildren. Three step-brothers: Warren Radcliffe, Jr., Downingtown; Paul H. Radcliffe, Robesonia; and Carl Radcliffe, Parkersburg, WV. She was preceded in death by one brother: Robert Musser and one sister: Arlene (Musser) Baker. Half-brothers: Lester Gordon Smith; Donald Leigh Smith; K. Lemar Smith; and half-sister: Doris (Smith) Bushong. Step-brother: Allen Radcliffe.
Esther was buried in a private family service at Habecker Mennonite Cemetery with Rev. Sam Whicker, officiating. Arrangements by the Workman Funeral Homes, Inc., Columbia/Mountville. To send an online condolence, visit the condolence page.
