Glenda Gayle Estes beautiful, generous, insightful, harder-than-hard-working heart earned its final well-deserved rest this past Monday, June 1, 2020. She was 75 years old. But oh my, what she packed into those 75 years. Born on October 16, 1944, a day we now honor with a most-appropriate sobriquet for Glenda to be sure: Bosss Day; she was indeed born to lead. In fact, Glenda herself would say, "I really only have two dreams in my life. To have a daughter and to run a business." Turns out, she fulfilled both dreams, most admirably. On her way to business prosperity, while others her age might be playing with dolls or imagining tea parties with the neighbors, Glenda was cleaning houses, babysitting, and earning money to buy the business suits she yearned to clothe herself in. Whats remarkable is that as she grew older and wiser, Glenda created this success as a single mom, with two kids, at a time when there were no social movements, no extended hands of help, nothing but her own internal drive that constantly told her, "you just have to believe in yourself. Thats where the strength comes from." Truly a woman ahead of her time in every endeavor, Glenda was that and more when it came to fulfilling dream number two as a mother of two daughters, Tammie Kleinmann and Rachael Edwards. For you see, in a time when the word transgender wasnt even a word yet, Glenda was a lone woman, in Texas, mind you, fighting the whole of society and most especially, the whisperers, to ensure that her boy Orville Wayne became the child he was in his heart and soul, Rachael Edwards. Daughter of Hershel "Dude" Severn and Nevada Helen Severn, Glenda was sister to Ladean Severn Kidwell, H. Ray Severn and Robert Wayne Severn. She had two children, Rachael Edwards and Tammie Edwards Kleinmann. And one grandchild, Sydney Kleinmann. Glenda was a force to be reckoned with on every front. She could weave a tale like nobodys business. She could negotiate and argue contracts, terms of employment, agreements, you name it, like a well-seasoned lawyer. She could also attract admirers from far and wide, all the while never quite understanding what all the fuss was about. Was she brave To be sure. Direct And then some. Funny Deliciously so. Self-sufficient A source of pride. The fact is, there are far too many descriptors in Merriam-Webster to fill in the complete and nuanced picture of Glenda Gayle Estes. Which is probably why we should let this quote from her own daughter, Tammie, carry the day for us today. "I just couldnt let her go without everyone knowing who she was. Her loyalty was insane. Her ability to forgive was insane." Can there be two more noble virtues Her body may be viewed 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday. The funeral is planned for 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 5, 2020 at Donnelly's Colonial Funeral Home Chapel, 606 West Airport Freeway in Irving. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the funeral service will be live streamed for those not comfortable getting out. The private link will be posted on this obituary at 10:15 a.m. Friday. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, 1413 E. Irving Blvd. in Irving. The link to the live stream of the funeral service that will go live at 11:00 a.m. https://youtu.be/78mqN4oPtNE SERVICES Funeral Service

Friday, June 05, 2020 11:00 AM

Donnelly's Colonial Funeral Home Chapel 606 West Airport Freeway Irving, TX 75062

Committal Service

Friday, June 05, 2020 12:30 PM

Oak Grove Memorial Gardens 1413 E. Irving Blvd. Irving, TX 75060