James "Jim" Arthur Hester

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

James "Jim" Arthur Hester, 53, of Steele, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011, at Baptist East Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Born Dec. 6, 1957, in Memphis, he was the son of the late James and Stella Slaten Hester. Mr. Hester was a member of the First Baptist Church in Steele and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor degree in business and finance from the University of Mississippi at Oxford, Miss. He was a long-time insurance agent for Farm Bureau, a former Steele Rotary Club member and a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

He is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Gail Gonzalez and husband Adolfo "David" of Blytheville, Ark., and Stella Kathleen "Katie" Schaefer and husband Scott of Diamondhead, Miss.; one son, Allen Hester of Steele, Mo.; two brothers, Samuel Hester and wife Brenda of Jonesboro, Ark., and Gary Coleman and wife Becky of Germantown, Tenn.; one sister, Carolyn Coleman of Steele, Mo.; a very special stepmother, Juanita Hester of Holland, Mo.; and a special friend, Peggy Thomas of Steele, Mo. Mr. Hester also leaves three grandchildren, Ava Katie Schaefer, Cody and Kaitlyn Gonzalez, and a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services were 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the First Baptist Church in Steele, Mo., with Rev. Michael Funderburk officiating. Burial was in the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Steele under the direction of Faith Funeral Service of Manila, Ark.

The family received visitors Saturday from 9 a.m. until time of service at the church.