A “Celebration of Life” of the grand lady of the Orange Blossom Opry on Tuesday evening, had plenty of laughs, a few tears and lots of good music.
Estelle Wages Benson who departed this life on Friday at the age of 85, would have been proud.
Her casket was center stage at the celebration held at the Orange Blossom Opry which she loved and cherished the past dozen years of her life.
The headline from the event would have made her smile, too.
Roger Beyers of Beyers Funeral Home announced that he has agreed to purchase the music hall located in a Depression-era school in Weirsdale.
“This place has always been about healing,” Beyers said.
And he said it is his intent to see the Opry go on in a way which would make Estelle proud.
The event attracted a full house from State Rep. Marlene O’Toole (R-The Villages) to 16-year-old Cote Deonath of Dunnellon. Cote was there with his mother, Dianne, to pay his respects to the lady who coaxed him into performing his Elvis impression on the infamous Thursday jam nights at the Opry.
“Whatever Estelle wanted, she got,” Cote said.
It was a theme that ran throughout the evening.
Thursday jammer Dom Citera of Lady Lake, who said he usually prefers rockers, slowed it down with George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass.”
Fellow Thursday jammer Dave Rahn of Spruce Creek Del Webb performed John Anderson’s “Swingin'” and publicly thanked Estelle for giving him a chance when he was singing in a little group at the Blue Parrot RV Park.
“I brought in a 15-year-old CD and she listened to it,” Rahn said. “And I found a home here.”
Before Beyers’ announcement, hostess of the evening Suzanne Morgan admitted there had been many rumors about the future of the Opry since Estelle’s demise.
Beyers assured the audience that Estelle’s dream will live on.
To read more about Estelle Benson’s life, including her complete obituary, follow the link below:
http://villages-news.com/estelle-wages-benson/
