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Lois Hester Obituary
Memorial service: 3 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C. Graveside service: at a later date in Goldthwaite, Texas, at the family burial site.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, to Hospice of Wake County, 1300 St. Mary's St., Raleigh, N.C. 27605, or the Christian Children's Fund, 2821 Emerywood Parkway, Box 26511, Richmond, Va. 23286-8818.
She was born Feb. 11, 1909, in Goldthwaite to William Thomas Keese and Emmadore Pearce Keese and was the last survivor of her brother and six sisters. Pete grew up in Goldthwaite, graduating as valedictorian of her high school class. She attended Bethany Nazarene College in Oklahoma and Texas Woman's University and the University of Texas. She taught elementary school in Center City, Texas, from 1929 to 1935 and speech and drama at Goldthwaite High School from 1935 to 1938. In 1935 she married Richard Walters "Bobo" Hester.
Pete and her husband lived in Cameron from 1938 until they moved to Fort Worth in 1946. Her husband died in 1978. She continued to live in Fort Worth until 1994, when she moved to Atlanta, Ga., to be near her son and his wife. She moved with them to Raleigh, N.C., in 1996.
From age 26 until she was 86, Pete was a public speaker and stand-up comedienne. During 60 years of entertaining she gave book reviews -- retelling the story of a novel or biography -- or presented her own humorous routines. From 1977 to 1983, she was co-host of the syndicated television program "Sixty Plus" on KTVT-TV in Fort Worth. From 1946 until she moved from Fort Worth in 1994, she was an active member of Sagamore Hill Baptist Church where for years she taught an adult Sunday school class.
The family expresses its deep appreciation to the staff of the Rex Nursing Care Center where Pete lived the last five years of her life and where she received loving care from a dedicated professional staff.
Survivors: Son, Richard Hester and his wife, Beverly Raney Hester, of Raleigh, N.C.; grandson and his wife, John Hester and Joyce Yamano Hester of Orange, Calif.; granddaughter and her husband, Ann Hester and Chris Fialko of Charlotte, N.C.; great-grandchildren, Kate and Andy Fialko and Nathan and Rachel Hester; sister-in-law, Lottie Hester Means of Denison; and many nieces and nephews.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Lois Hester
Buddy & Jackie Stewart
April 19, 2006
Dear Richard and family,
We were neighbors on Junius also as well as members at Sagamore. I was always so appreciative of the manner in which Pete welcomed the neighborhood kids, especially on Halloween. She always welcomed the kids INTO THE HOUSE for punch and cookies. Our three, Mike, David and Kelli, loved her. She was a neat lady and wonderful Christian. Our sympathy and prayers.
Jayne & Dee Harrison
April 15, 2006
Hope you find our letter, we sent it to the Cremation Society. Our children , as well as us have many fine memories of Pete.
Jimmye "Tojo" Escott
April 15, 2006
Pete and Bobo were our neighbors on Junius but I guess you could say they were more than that. I was just a young kid who loved hanging out with Pete. She was so special to all the neighborhood kids. At Halloween she would dress up and have a big party for all of us, at times I felt I lived there. Her door was always open and she was such a generous and kind woman. Very funny too. I will always have great memories of her. God bless all of Pete's family. I'm sure you know what a wonderful contribution she made on this earth.
Sherry Wright Ferguson
April 12, 2006
Dear Richard,
My husband, Bob, and I loved your mother so much! She was one of our most favorite people. Bob and I met in the Singles Sunday School class at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church in 1976, and Pete was our teacher. When I first came into the class, Bob leaned over to your mom and said, "What's she doing here?", and she said, "Same thing you are!" She was right in the middle of our courtship! She was so interesting, intelligent and funny! We were in her class when your dad passed away. We went to her going away party before she moved to Atlanta to be near you and your family. We've missed her so much through the years and thought of her so often. She made an indelible mark on our lives. We didn't know you had all moved to North Carolina. I was afraid we probably wouldn't ever get to see her again on this earth, but I know we will be reunited with her when God calls us home. I can only imagine how happy she and Bobo were to be with each other once again. May God bless and comfort you and your family during this time of separation from your mom.
Jim & Frances Crow & family
April 12, 2006
Much love by the entire Crow family and may God be with you and yours at this time. She was a wonderful Christian woman and will be greatly missed.
Jan Richardson Coyle
April 12, 2006
I wanted to express my condolences to your family. Having grown up on Junius St., many of my childhoood memories involve your mother. She always greeted the neighborhood kids with a smile--even when we rang her doorbell in the middle of the afternoon for no reason just because we wanted to say hey to her. She always took the interruption in stride...I can still see her smiling face as she invited us inside for a cold drink. I can only imagine how much you will miss her. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Susan Coates Mars
April 12, 2006
Gosh "Pete" I so loved you as a kid while I was growing up. Everytime I would see you in the hall I would always get near to see what funny story you were telling. I am so glad I got to have you in my life. I am Susan Coates...61 years old and my sister is Sally married to Louis Harris. Ona Mae Harris just died this year as well. Hugs to your family
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