Lawrence Lester

Lawrence "Larry" James Lester, 80, died at his home in Mount Vernon on December 4, 2025, after a long battle with advanced prostate cancer. He passed away naturally and peacefully, with his soulmate Chong, by his side.
Born in Seattle on May 23, 1945, Larry was the firstborn son of Galen Lester and Martha (Shimota) Lester. He grew up in North Seattle with his siblings, Kathy, Paul, and Michael. At a young age, he was active in his church, singing in the church boys' choir and participating in Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts.
He was a man who took pride in the things he owned and could fix just about anything. His curiosity about how things worked helped him become a gifted mechanic; during his youth, he meticulously cleaned and rebuilt the engine of his prized '56 Chevy.
He attended Blanchet High School, graduating with the class of 1963. He then attended community college and later enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served as a Communications Specialist during the Vietnam War. It was during his service in Korea that he met Chong through the introduction of friends. Their connection was unique and spanned oceans. A year after returning to Seattle and completing his military service, they were married, beginning a 54-year journey together.
Larry earned his Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Washington University in 1971. They lived in Texas for a few years before returning to Seattle to welcome their first child, Matthew. After settling into a home they helped build in what is now Shoreline, WA, their children Sandra then Jonathan were born. They lived in this house for several decades, celebrating holidays, birthdays, graduations, and experiencing life together.
As a true entrepreneur with a tireless work ethic and a gift of being an engaging conversationalist, Larry played a significant role in the Seattle region and abroad through his ownership of several local small businesses. His construction business helped shape the landmarks of the Pacific Northwest by contributing to the building and improvement of Seattle landmarks like the Suzzallo Library at University of Washington, Seattle's Pier 69, and the Clallam Bay Penitentiary. Through his freight forwarding businesses, he traveled the world, helping global governments and companies navigate complex logistics.
Beyond his professional life, Larry was a man of faith and service to his community, serving as a Knight of Columbus, a dedicated usher at St. Luke in Shoreline, and a volunteer with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He was also an outdoor enthusiast and enjoyed taking his family on fishing expeditions, camping, or taking road trips together to explore new areas of the region.
At home in his later years, Lawrence found joy in the simple things and liked to stay busy-whether he was meticulous maintaining his black Chrysler 300M, tackling a home improvement project, or planning a local day trip with Chong. He also knew the value of a quiet afternoon spent relaxing in front of the TV with his wife by his side.
He was a man of strong principles who believed in hard work and giving back. He expressed his love through sharing his time and energy. Despite his stoic exterior, he was sentimental and a romantic at heart, who never missed an anniversary or birthday and had unconditional love for his family. He lived for his children's success and took immense pride in their academic, professional, and personal achievements.
Although he was a man of large stature who gave enveloping bearhugs, he was also sensitive, often wiping away tears during the most touching parts of movies. As a sentimental person, he kept cards and small artwork from his children and wife for many years on his desk or in his dresser. He tapped his feet to the beat of songs he liked, loved learning about history, and enjoyed watching movies with a large bowl of popcorn. He could barbecue beef better than a 5-star restaurant, and he gave thoughtful advice as an act of service to his loved ones.
He was not ready to leave this earth and felt he had more to accomplish in this life. Although his cancer continued to spread despite novel treatments and countless hours of self-research and consulting with top doctors in the region, he fought to stay in this world as long as he did out of a profound sense of duty and love to his wife. He resisted death until the very end, refusing to leave until he knew she would be looked after. During his last year of life, he wanted his loved one to know that death is not something to be feared, it is beautiful; the peace and love in death is vast and boundless. This is not the end.
He will be greatly missed and the chasm of his passing will never be filled from our lives.
Lawrence is survived by his wife of 54 years, Chong; his children, Matthew, Sandra, and Jonathan; his sister, Kathy Keagle; five grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Galen and Martha, and his brothers, Paul and Michael.
Service Information A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Sacred Heart Church (9450 NE 14th St, Clyde Hill, WA 98004).
In honor of Lawrence's life and his devotion to his wife, flowers may be sent directly to Chong at the family home in Fairwinds Redmond.