Kyle Estes, a union field representative for Laborers Local 737, was killed Sept. 11 in a head-on car crash on U.S. 26 near Warm Springs. Estes, 52, lived in Medford and was on his way to Portland for a union training when an oncoming driver swerved into his lane and hit his 2016 GMC Terrain head-on near milepost 74. He died at the scene, and the other driver was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.
Estes joined Laborers Local 121 in 1994, and served as a union steward at the Water Division of the City of Ashland Public Works Department, where he worked for 23 years. Local 121 became part of statewide Local 737 in 2015. Estes went to work for Local 737 as a field representative in 2017, representing members in Southern Oregon.
Kyle is survived by his wife Jill of 28 years, his son Ray, sister Valerie Henry, and his father Jim Estes. He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Estes.
All who knew Kyle are invited to attend a memorial service Sunday, September 23, at 2 p.m. at the Phoenix Plaza Civic Center, 220 North Main Street, Phoenix, Oregon. Bring finger food to share.
