Meghan Danielle Dalmut Estep entered the gates of Heaven on Thursday, December 29, 2022. She was born on November 3, 1980 to Daniel Wayne Dalmut and Jeane Shipman Dalmut in Fort Smith, Arkansas, welcomed by a brother, Zachary Dalmut, and a host of family members who loved her.
Growing up, Meghan attended First Baptist Church and gave her life to Jesus at the age of 8. She attended Mansfield Schools where she excelled in academics and graduated with friends/classmates of 1999. She loved her church and going to school. She enjoyed cheer, basketball and volleyball. Though Coach Gaile Hainley said as Meghan entered seventh grade, she would never be a volleyball player, she graduated as an All-State Setter. She played in the 1999 state finals. Meghan had fond memories of playing in England with a team coached by Coach Hainley.
In August of 1999, Meghan began college at Westark, graduating with the class of 2003 (University of Arkansas-Fort Smith).
Also in 1999, Meghan met Michael Estep on a blind date to his prom. Then, with an Early Childhood Degree, Hank Needham hired her to teach kindergarten at Cavanaugh Elementary School. She began her 20 year teaching career and married her special love, Michael on July 6, 2002. She always said it was the best day of her life with her family and friends.
Meghan and Michael lived in Fort Smith moving to their farm home outside of Mansfield in 2005
Meghan loved her classroom children, teaching K, 1st, 4th, and 2nd grades from 2002 to the present at Cavanaugh. During her teaching career, she was named to many committees both in her school and in her district. Knowledgeable in many areas, Meghan earned many accolades. She was named Wal-Mart Outstanding Educator of the Year and advanced to Regional Teacher of the Year for Arkansas during her tenure. She earned her National Board Certification and recently completed her Masters in Educational Leadership degree from ASU.
Meghan was beloved by students, parents and colleagues with whom she enjoyed lifetime friendship
Meghan and Michael started their family in 2005, when Maebree Abigail was born. Mollee Alexandra followed in 2010 and Bradlee James in 2014. Meghan was passionate about church, family and school. As the children grew, she followed them during travel ball season for volleyball and softball, and more recently rodeo activities with “B”. During the season, Meghan enjoyed raking hay with her dad. With three children, friends marveled at her energy and attention to school and church. She and Michael encouraged their children, and they set the bar high.
Michael and these beautiful children have professed their faith in Christ and are looking forward to seeing her again in Heaven. Her parents, Danny and Jeane, also known as Poppa and Boom-Boom, survived Meghan, along with her brother, Zach and his wife, Stacy and their children, Mason and Zoey.
Our beautiful Meghan leaves behind a close family including, Granny Frankie Estep; aunts and uncles, Ewanda Young (Jim), Charly Shipman (Sharon), Karen Hubbard (Wayne), Dicky Shipman, Joe Shipman, Jim and Jane Watson (Estep), Dorothy Gasaway, Joe Dalmut and Becky Basham; a host of loving cousins and her special sister/friend, Ashley Strunk and her family.
Preceding her in death are grandparents, Glee and Edwina Shipman and Charlie and Dorothy Dalmut and cousins, Dash Shipman, Stephen Basham and Emily Dalmut and Kay Brown.
Her cousin, Rev. Warren Gasaway, along with Rev. Gary Martin will officiate at a celebration of Meghan’s impactful life on Wednesday, January 3 at 10 a.m. at Fellowship Baptist Church in Witcherville, Arkansas. Visitation will be Tuesday from 2 – 7 p.m. at Fellowship Baptist Church, where the family will visit with friends from 5 – 7 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Mason Dalmut, Casey Estep, Buck Matthews, Jimmy Shipman, Travis Watson and Jamie Young. Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Hubbard, Hank Needham, Charly Shipman, Dicky Shipman, Joe Shipman and Billy Strunk.
Meghan would be quick to say her charity of choice is the Susan G. Komen Breast Care Awareness, in honor of those in her life who have suffered. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her honor.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com
