Conner, Ernestina M.

87, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on Friday, June 23, 2017 in Mesa AZ of a long battle with medical conditions from a stroke in 2010. Funeral Services will be held 10:00 AM, Friday, June 30, 2017 with visitation 1 hour prior at Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery with the Brother Eric Estrada from The Salvation Army officiating. Burial will follow services at Green Acres Cemetery, 401 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale. Ernestina was born April 30, 1930 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Ernest M. Conner and Elsie M. Peyton. During her summer breaks as a child, she would stay with her paternal grandparents, where she learned about the Christian Faith and life. There she attended church, under the preaching and teaching of her grandfather, Rev. Wilton E. Conner in Spurlockville, West Virginia. She went to school in Freedytown, WV, before coming to Phoenix due to asthma conditions she suffered in the mountains of West Virginia. Once in Phoenix, she lived with her uncle, Dr. S.K. Conner, M.D. and attended Phoenix Union High School. After High School, two marriages that inspired eight children, as a full-time mom, she decided to return to school full-time during her second marriage. She worked full-time at Motorola in Scottsdale, AZ and attended Scottsdale Community College fulltime. She later transferred to Arizona State University acquiring her Bachelors and Master’s Degree in Education, plus additional coursework in Education at the post-graduate level. She started her career teaching Kindergarten at St. Daniels the Prophet School in Scottsdale, AZ. She later taught ESL and spent many years as a Reading Specialist in the Phoenix Union High School District, as well as a Reading Instructor for Rio Salado Community College. She always inspired her children and students to get an education and go to college. After retiring and moving from Tempe to Phoenix, she attended Laveen Baptist Church, before suffering two strokes in 2010. She was always giving to everyone and wanting to make sure everyone was "OK" even up to her last days. She was truly loved and will be greatly missed by all. Ernestina is preceded in death by her parents Ernest M. Conner and Elsie M. Peyton also her first husband Warren H. Smith and her daughter Sonja M. Smith and granddaughter Addie J. Clark. She is survived by her son Ernest K. Smith along with seven grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. Ernestina was also preceded in death by her second husband Ralph G. Estrada and her son Zachary C. Estrada. She is survived by her children Raphaela Estrada Bell, Ralph G. (Laurie) Estrada Jr., Phil A. (Renee) Estrada, Peter C. Estrada and J. Eric (Tammy) Estrada along with 17 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and 1 on the way. Arrangements are entrusted to Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery.