Maria 'Esther' Jara, age 97, of Hot Springs, SD, died peacefully in her sleep, November 22, 2011, at Fountain Springs Nursing Home in Rapid City, SD.

Esther was born January 17, 1914, in Hanover, NM, to Manuel R. and Maria Angela (Chevez) Dominguez.
Esther lived with her family in New Mexico until age six when she traveled on a train to Mexico with her Mom. The rest of her family left New Mexico to relocate in the West. As the baby of the family, she remained in Mexico until January 7, 1936, when her brother, Abel, met her at the border. (Her Grandfather had died, at age 106, and her brothers had arranged a marriage in California for Esther.) Esther's mother was not a citizen of the United States so she jumped the fence to go to California with her son and daughter.

Esther wanted nothing to do with the arranged marriage so in June 1936, she eloped with her husband of fifty years, Jose 'Pop' Jara.

In late 1939, Jose took a job with Bancroft Ranch in Walnut Creek, CA. Esther made her home there until the ranch was sold. No English was spoken in the home until their son; Joseph was in the third grade. Then she and Jose attended Adult Classes to learn English. She managed the money and her home with her wits and a formal fourth grade education. Math was her specialty and she would recite with ease the times tables. Her homemade tamales were made with no recipe and were appreciated by all the family members. Joseph remembers her singing.

Esther cared for 'Pop' through his heart surgery and cancer diagnosis. Often they spent time driving to Lake Tahoe to play the slot machines and visit with some of their grandchildren. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in 1986. After Jose's death later that year, Esther embraced the rest of her life. Living in an adult trailer park in Stockton, CA, she did well crocheting doilies and hanger covers, making friends as well as playing bingo until the late 1990's.

After moving to South Dakota during June 2000, she for years enjoyed her new friends at the Brookside in Hot Springs. They all enjoyed bingo and cards anytime there was a game. She never said "No" to a bus trip to the Casino. She liked to win but most of all she enjoyed the music of the coins dropping in the metal tray. After a fall Christmas Eve 2006 her life changed to Assisted Living which she enjoyed for over four years. Esther will be missed by all who were touched by her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Abel, Melquiades, Juan Miguel, Juan Paul, her sisters, Teresa, Angela and Julia. Her granddaughter, Shirley N. Jara Bickham died in Washington State, June 1984.

Survivors include sons, Joseph (Trudy) Jara of Hot Springs; Sammy Jara of El Cajon, CA; Gilbert (Donna) Jara of Omaha, NE; Roy (Sharyon) Jara of Silver Springs, NV; twelve grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren and fifteen great great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs with Fr. Peter Kovarik officiating. Interment will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs.

A memorial has been established in Esther's name to benefit the Hot Springs Senior Center.