Esther M. Top

Esther M. Top, 89, of Sioux City passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at a Sioux City hospital. Funeral services will be at 11a.m. Thursday at Grace United Methodist Church with the Rev. Tim Bonney officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4:00 to 8:00p.m. Wednesday at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00p.m. and a prayer service at 7:00p.m. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com. Esther was born February 13, 1926, in Sibley, IA, the daughter of Rev. John and Elsa (Reineking) DeVries. She graduated from Sibley High School in 1944 and attended Northwestern College in Orange City where she received an associate degree in 1947 and embarked on an over 40 year career in teaching. Her career started in Kingsley, Iowa, and included teaching reading to Laotian refugees in Montgomery, AL in the late 1970's. As an adult she returned to college, majoring in Elementary Education, and graduated from Huntingdon College in 1982. She taught for 13 years in the Montgomery Alabama Public School system. While at Huntingdon she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and was more recently honored as a member of the Huntingdon Society for her support of the college. Esther was united in marriage to Willard (Bill) Top on Aug. 10, 1950, in Orange City, Iowa. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2010 with a reception at The Pointe. After retiring, Esther and Bill returned to Sioux City to be close to family, but spent winter months as snowbirds on the Gulf Coast in Orange Beach, AL. He died April 13, 2011, in Sioux City. Wherever she lived, Esther was engaged and active in her community. She loved music and the arts and was an avid reader. In Sioux City she was a member of the Bard of Avon Book Club and the National Society of T.T.T., a service organization to help disadvantaged girls. She was a long time piano teacher and, as a volunteer, taught piano lessons to inmates at the Alabama State Prison for Women. She was also active in her churches, First United Methodist Church, Montgomery, AL, Grace United Methodist Church, Sioux City, Iowa, and enjoyed attending Central Baptist Church in Sioux City after moving into assisted living. She loved socializing and welcomed any chance to entertain family, friends and neighbors. As the wife of a college administrator she opened their home to students, faculty and the college community. She was a great conversationalist who quickly made friends and put people at ease. Esther enjoyed life to the fullest and was active just days before her death. Survivors include her three children, Patty Morehead (Charles) of Sioux City, Bill Top of Atlanta, GA, Anne Docarmo of Auburn, AL; two brothers, Rev. John DeVries of Evanston, IL, Rev. Lorenz DeVries of Park Forest, IL; one sister, Mary DeVries of Eagan, MN; six grandchildren, Tracy Van Ginkel (Steve) of Dakota Dunes, SD, Christy Morehead of Sioux City, Laura Blome (Zach) of Des Moines, Alex Kim (Diana) of Chicago, Allie Docarmo, Andie Docarmo, both of Auburn, AL; five great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. John and Elsa DeVries, a brother, Rev. Cal DeVries and a sister, Ruth Huisman. Memorials may be directed to the Dr. Willard D. Top and Esther Top Endowed Scholarship Fund at Huntingdon College, 1500 Fairview Ave., Montgomery, AL 36106, Attn: Anthony Leigh, or one of her churches.