Esteva Elaine Michael

Esteva Elaine Michael of Miami, FL and Charlotte, NC went to be with her Lord on 8/18/2025, ten days after her 101st birthday party. A sweet tooth, she ate her share of the cake at her birthday party. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Born August 8, 1923 in Johnson City Tennessee she was the daughter of Hattie and Walter Gouge. Esteva was pre-deceased by Claude, her husband of 62 years, her daughter, Kathryn Meadows, and siblings Floyd, Jack, Jeanette, June, and Jeneva.

To say she had an interesting life is an understatement. After marrying Claude, she followed him when he joined the Navy during World War Two. She lived in Galveston, Texas and Oakland, California while he was deployed on a destroyer in the Pacific. The Navy then re-assigned him to Port Lyautey, French Morocco. She followed him with her two children, Bing and Kathy, crossing the Atlantic on a Navy Ship. In Port Lyautey she worked for a civilian contractor for four years before moving with Claude to Madrid, Spain where she again worked for a civilian contractor, this time for three years, before returning with her family to live in Miami, Florida.

She held executive positions in different Miami companies until retiring as Paymaster for the Belcher oil company. She then began devoting her full attention to her grandchildren, and, yes, her pet menagerie that included dogs, cats, parrots, and, of all things, a small monkey.

Beloved by her family, she is survived by her son Bing and his wife Vickie, son in law Dan Meadows, six grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren.

Esteva was a incredible influence on anyone who knew her, and supported any family member in need. She was strong beyond belief, and a safe harbor In a storm.

She will be missed.

A celebration of her life will be held September 6- 11AM At Stephenson-Gaskin, 14617 Lawyers Road #B, Matthews, NC 28104

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of North Carolina https://www.hospiceofnorthcarolina.org/make_a_donation.php

Or, since Mom so loved the puppies in her life : Barkville Dog Rescue https://www.barkvilledogrescue.org/donate