A CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE will be held for Esther Lou Breon beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2020 at Trinity United Methodist Church.

VISITATION will be preceding the service from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

BURIAL was held privately by the family in the Appleton City Cemetery on June 2, 2020.

The family suggests any Memorial donations be made to Trinity United Methodist Church. Memorials may be left at Hill & Son Funeral Home (213 W. 6th St., Appleton City, MO 64724) or mailed to Trinity United Methodist Church, 214 E, Third, Appleton City, MO 64724. They may also be left at the church the day of the Memorial Service.

Esther Lou (Dines) Breon passed away peacefully on May 27, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. She was the daughter of Herbert Lehman and Opal Jaunita (Shoemaker) Dines, born on February 26, 1932 in Appleton City, Missouri. She spent her formative years in the Appleton City area, where she graduated from high school in 1949. Esther Lou then attended Warrensburg Teachers College in Warrensburg, Missouri, earning a Bachelor's of Education. Later, she earned a Master's Degree in at Warrensburg. She went on to teach in several area schools for many years. Her first year of teaching was in a one-room country school. She taught English at Appleton City High School for several years. She started the Kindergarten programs at Ballard and Montrose. She also taught Kindergarten at Appleton City. Later she was the Eighth Grade teacher at AC and then returned to ACHS. The last few years of her teaching career were as principal and Third-Fourth Grade teacher at Hudson Elementary School. She retired in 1990.
During this time, Esther Lou married Robert Breon on May 8, 1952, and to this union two sons were born: Stephan and John. The couple moved around while Bob served in the US Army. Shortly after this they moved back to Appleton City, where they had a small farm for a few years before moving to town. They also operated Breon Real Estate and Insurance on "Main Street" in Appleton for many long years.
Apart from this, Esther Lou was a cornerstone of Trinity United Methodist Church in Appleton City, where she played the piano and organ, taught Sunday school, and led many to the faith during her many years of service. She started playing piano in church at age 14 and continued for more than sixty years. She spent many hours practicing with her good friends Mary Beth Stout and Linda Hargrave. She further hosted weekly Bible studies at her home to share the word and delicious treats, welcoming all interested disciples of Jesus Christ. In the 1980s, she organized an annual women's retreat at Trinty UMC. These involved speakers from around the nation and particpants from across Missouri. In their retirement Robert and Esther Lou moved to an assisted living facility in Kansas City in 2014 to be near family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert Lehman and Opal Jaunita (Shoemaker) Dines and her husband of 67 years, Robert "Bob" Breon.
She is survived by her sons, Steve and wife Cindy of Kansas City; John and wife Nancy of Durant, OK; grandchildren: Bobby Breon and wife Leslie of Olathe, KS; Andrea Daniels and husband Billy of Overland Park, KS; Rachel Myers and husband Zach of St. Paul, MN; Eric Breon of Dallas, TX; and Eli Breon of Norman, OK; one great-grandson, Charles Myers; along with many extended family and close friends that will deeply miss her.