Estella I. (Martinez) Torrey

Estella Irene Torrey, age 92, of Fenton, died September 21, 2023.  Estella was born March 25, 1931 in Rock Creek, Rio Grande County, CO, the daughter of Ben and Florence Martinez.  One of seven children, she had three brothers; Clarence, Bill, and Fred; and three sisters, Agnes, Mary, and Margaret.  She married Wayne Torrey in June of 1953. Estella was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband, and son Jeffrey.  She is survived by her children, Michael (Marcia), Carl (Alicia), and Michele; grandchildren, Kensey (Drew) Stasica, Benjamin, Casey, Alex, Shane, and Jesse; great grandson’s, Beau and Theodore Stasica; sister in law Nancy Reed; special nephews and their families, Tom (Echo) Reed – Tom and Abby, Tim (Honor) Reed -  Zachary and Katye, Jim (Tracy) Reed – Andrew and Melanie, and Ben Beach; special niece, Teri (Jim) Price and her family Brian (Kari) Watkins, and Jennifer (John) Pemberton; and many special great great nieces and nephews.  Estella also has extended family across the western states.  Estella moved to Flint as a young girl and lived with her sister Margaret.  She graduated from Flint Northern High School and was employed at Maas Brothers Clothing Store in downtown Flint for several years.  She and Wayne raised their family in Flint.  She was an active member in her children’s Sunday School and women’s circles at Grace and Hope United Methodist Churches.  Estella was a devoted wife and mother, supporting her children in all school events through the years, from swim lessons to scouts to marching band and cross county meets.  Estella was very proud to be a part of her children’s and grandchildren’s high school and college graduations.  She was a baker and loved to bake cookies for her family, friends and neighbors.  She was an expert seamstress.  She made Halloween costumes over the years for her children as well as repair or alter items for family and friends.  Estella enjoyed family celebrations most of all.  She often traveled with family to her sister’s cottage in Caseville and Oscoda to the cottage of her in-laws.  She loved the summer sun and sandy beaches of the Great Lakes as well as color tours in the Fall to see the beauty of the leaves.  Family summer vacations were also spent traveling and camping across the country to her home state of Colorado and many other Western States to enjoy their diverse beauty and landscapes.  Throughout her later years, she enjoyed attending ball games and dance recitals of her great great nieces, Ashlyn, Emmalyn and Hadley, as well as hockey games of her great great nephew Jaxson.  She enjoyed card games, puzzles, music concerts and found TV Westerns entertaining as a reminder of the landscape in Southwestern Colorado where she spent her childhood.  Estella kept her connection to her western family with frequent phone calls to niece Dixie Martinez of Utah and nephew Rudy (Lydia) Martinez of California.  A highlight of her 92nd birthday in March was the visit of her granddaughter, Kensey (Drew) and her two great grandsons – Beau and Teddy.  She enjoyed all the energy they brought to her.  Estella, always the caretaker, lived her life for her family.  She was the sunshine in her families lives. 

Estella’s family extends a special thank you to the staff at Provision Living in Fenton and The Medical Team Hospice who provided her with compassionate care during her final days.

A family memorial service will take place at a later date.

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