B.D. Lester

Funeral services for B.D. ""Buck"" Lester, 90, of Diboll will be held Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Leo Lytle officiating. Interment will follow in the Ryan Chapel Cemetery.

Mr. Lester was born January 12, 1921 in Diboll, Texas to the late Lottie Mae (Ivey) and Vernon Atmar Lester. He resided in the Pine Valley Community most of his life, and had lived in the Lottie Temple Center, PineCrest Retirement Community for the past two years. Mr. Lester passed away Monday, August 8, 2011 in a local hospital.

Mr. Lester was a rancher all of his life and loved working and tending to his cattle until his health failed him to no longer do so. He retired from Temple Inland after 36 years of service to the company. Mr. Lester joined the company in March 1953 as Ranch Foreman for Southern Pine Lumber Company, Cattle Division. When the Cattle Division sold out, he then went to work in the Fiberboard Plant as a foreman for 10 years and retired from Temple Inland as a contract logging inspector in the Forestry Division.

Mr. Lester also served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Luzon during World War II. He was a member of the Faith Community Ministries Church in Burke, where he led the song service for many years. Mr. Lester also attended the Pine Valley Congregational Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Burke Masonic Lodge #833 A.F. & A.M. for over 50 years and was a 32nd degree Mason. Mr. Lester was also a 42 year member of the Scottish Rite Bodies.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Atmar and Shelia Lester of Forest; daughters and sons-in-law, Judy Ann Lester Morrill of Jacksonville, Florida, Bethel Dee and R.W. Oaks of Brazoria, Barbara and Earl Glen Harris of Forest and Mary Margaret Noel of Cushing; grandchildren, Troy Morrill and wife Malora of Middleburg, Florida, Toni Davis and husband Ken of Brazoria, Randy Oaks and wife Gayla of Sweeny, Michael Glen Harris and wife Susan of Lufkin, Veronica Nettles and husband Monty of Lufkin, Joseph Oaks and wife Erica of Orem, Utah, Lindsay Waterman and husband Kevin of Nacogdoches and Lacy Flores and husband Daniel of Corrigan; 17 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Lester was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Margaret Clarke Lester; and sister, Edna Mae Lester Pate.

Pallbearers will be Michael Glen Harris, Randy Oaks, Randal Oaks, Troy Morrill, Ken Davis, Josh Morrill, Alex Morrill and Monty Nettles.
Honorary pallbearers will be R.W. Oaks and Earl Glen Harris.

The family wishes to give special thanks to Dr. Sean Moran and his staff; his caregivers at the Lottie Temple Center, PineCrest Retirement Center; and the staff at Hospice in the Pines for their wonderful and compassionate care in his last days. Words cannot express our love and appreciation for all you did for our loved one.

Friends who wish to do so may make memorial contributions to Hospice in the Pines, 1504 West Frank Avenue, Lufkin, Texas 75904.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.