St. Clair County Obits

MARTHA B. ESTEP


St. Clair County Courier
6 May 2005
Martha Belle Paul Estep was born Aug. 3, 1921, in Monegaw Springs to P.W. and Pearl Paul. She died April 6, 2005, in Orovillel, Calif., after a brief illness.

She moved from Monegaw to California after graduating from high school and married rodeo cowboy and stuntman, Smoky Bowman. During their years together she rode a Brahma bull through a ring of fire in their rodeo act, piloted her own plane, drove a 12 ton truck for the Army and worked for the USO during World War II.

With her second husband, Jeff Estep, she became an accomplished swing dancer and worked in the aerospace industry until she retired and moved to Oroville, Calif., 13 years ago.

She is survived by her daughter, Shyla Cook; granddaughter, Kema Cook of La Porte of Oroville; brothers, Ernie and his wife, Vina Paul and Richard and his wife, Jeanie Paul of Oroville, Calif., Jack Paul of Sheridan, Wyo., Walter Paul of Chino Hills, Calif.; sisters, Audrey Tuff and Peggy and her husband, Mark Guth of Oroville, Calif.; life long friend, Julie Lindsay of Lowry City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husbands, Smokey Bowman and Jeff Estep; brothers, Lawrence and Bill Paul; and sister Cleta Fay Phillips preceded her in death.

A party was held in her honor on April 24 at the Eagles Lodge of Oroville, Calif.