Esther Barnum Lester of Morton passed away at the age of 98. Esther graduated from Morton High School in 1926 and continued her education at Bellingham Normal School, now Western Washington University, receiving her degree in Education in 1930.
She taught elementary school in Randle, Kelso, and Morton as well as serving a Morton Elementary School principal.
In December 1936 she married Reg Lester in the Morton Methodist Church. They spent 63 years togather. Esther spent her lifetime involved in the Morton community as a businesswoman and civic leader.
In 1938, the Lesters started a tree farm which grew to over 320 acres. They were named the Lewis County Tree Farmers of the Year in 1997 and the Washington State Tree Fatmers of the Year in 1998. They owned and operated a Mobil oil and gas distributorship as well as a Buick and GMC dealership in Morton for over 40 years.
Esther was the founder of the Morton Logger's Jubilee Queen's Pagent in 1955. She was affectionately known as "Queen Mom", having celebrated the 50th year of the pageant in 2005.
In 1956, she co-founded the Morton High School Husky Scholarship Fund, which today generates thousands of dollars for high school seniors to continue their education.
A member of the Morton School board and the Morton Chamber of Commerce for many years, Esther was also a 50-year member ot the Daughters of the Nile, the Eastern Star, a member of the Lewis County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol Auxiliary, president of the Morton PTA, a member of the Cowlitz River Historical Society, the Morton Grange, the Western Washington University Alumni Association, and a member of the National Association of POW/MIA Families.
She was also involved with the Mary Bridge Orthopedic Hospital Guild and was a founding member of the Women's Investment Club of Morton. Her hobbies included playing the stock market, a good card game of bridge and betting on the ponies. She and Reg raced Thoroughbred horses under the banner of the"4-L" Stables in Washington, Oregon, and California.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Reg; her son Lt. Comdr. Roderick "Rog" Lester, a U.S. Navy pilot in the Vietnam War; and her sister, Alice Barnum Stahlman.
Esther is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Reg and Nita Lester of Santa Rosa, California; and her grandsons, Reg Lester of Santa Rosa, California and Ryan Lester and his wife Zaidy of Windsor, California.
Funeral services for Esther Lester were in the Morton Elementary School gymnasium with Rev. Johann Meethling officiating. Interment followed in the Morton Cemetery. A reception for family and friends then followed at the Bob Lyle Community Center.
She taught elementary school in Randle, Kelso, and Morton as well as serving a Morton Elementary School principal.
In December 1936 she married Reg Lester in the Morton Methodist Church. They spent 63 years togather. Esther spent her lifetime involved in the Morton community as a businesswoman and civic leader.
In 1938, the Lesters started a tree farm which grew to over 320 acres. They were named the Lewis County Tree Farmers of the Year in 1997 and the Washington State Tree Fatmers of the Year in 1998. They owned and operated a Mobil oil and gas distributorship as well as a Buick and GMC dealership in Morton for over 40 years.
Esther was the founder of the Morton Logger's Jubilee Queen's Pagent in 1955. She was affectionately known as "Queen Mom", having celebrated the 50th year of the pageant in 2005.
In 1956, she co-founded the Morton High School Husky Scholarship Fund, which today generates thousands of dollars for high school seniors to continue their education.
A member of the Morton School board and the Morton Chamber of Commerce for many years, Esther was also a 50-year member ot the Daughters of the Nile, the Eastern Star, a member of the Lewis County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol Auxiliary, president of the Morton PTA, a member of the Cowlitz River Historical Society, the Morton Grange, the Western Washington University Alumni Association, and a member of the National Association of POW/MIA Families.
She was also involved with the Mary Bridge Orthopedic Hospital Guild and was a founding member of the Women's Investment Club of Morton. Her hobbies included playing the stock market, a good card game of bridge and betting on the ponies. She and Reg raced Thoroughbred horses under the banner of the"4-L" Stables in Washington, Oregon, and California.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Reg; her son Lt. Comdr. Roderick "Rog" Lester, a U.S. Navy pilot in the Vietnam War; and her sister, Alice Barnum Stahlman.
Esther is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Reg and Nita Lester of Santa Rosa, California; and her grandsons, Reg Lester of Santa Rosa, California and Ryan Lester and his wife Zaidy of Windsor, California.
Funeral services for Esther Lester were in the Morton Elementary School gymnasium with Rev. Johann Meethling officiating. Interment followed in the Morton Cemetery. A reception for family and friends then followed at the Bob Lyle Community Center.
Esther Barnum Lester of Morton passed away at the age of 98. Esther graduated from Morton High School in 1926 and continued her education at Bellingham Normal School, now Western Washington University, receiving her degree in Education in 1930.
She taught elementary school in Randle, Kelso, and Morton as well as serving a Morton Elementary School principal.
In December 1936 she married Reg Lester in the Morton Methodist Church. They spent 63 years togather. Esther spent her lifetime involved in the Morton community as a businesswoman and civic leader.
In 1938, the Lesters started a tree farm which grew to over 320 acres. They were named the Lewis County Tree Farmers of the Year in 1997 and the Washington State Tree Fatmers of the Year in 1998. They owned and operated a Mobil oil and gas distributorship as well as a Buick and GMC dealership in Morton for over 40 years.
Esther was the founder of the Morton Logger's Jubilee Queen's Pagent in 1955. She was affectionately known as "Queen Mom", having celebrated the 50th year of the pageant in 2005.
In 1956, she co-founded the Morton High School Husky Scholarship Fund, which today generates thousands of dollars for high school seniors to continue their education.
A member of the Morton School board and the Morton Chamber of Commerce for many years, Esther was also a 50-year member ot the Daughters of the Nile, the Eastern Star, a member of the Lewis County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol Auxiliary, president of the Morton PTA, a member of the Cowlitz River Historical Society, the Morton Grange, the Western Washington University Alumni Association, and a member of the National Association of POW/MIA Families.
She was also involved with the Mary Bridge Orthopedic Hospital Guild and was a founding member of the Women's Investment Club of Morton. Her hobbies included playing the stock market, a good card game of bridge and betting on the ponies. She and Reg raced Thoroughbred horses under the banner of the"4-L" Stables in Washington, Oregon, and California.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Reg; her son Lt. Comdr. Roderick "Rog" Lester, a U.S. Navy pilot in the Vietnam War; and her sister, Alice Barnum Stahlman.
Esther is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Reg and Nita Lester of Santa Rosa, California; and her grandsons, Reg Lester of Santa Rosa, California and Ryan Lester and his wife Zaidy of Windsor, California.
Funeral services for Esther Lester were in the Morton Elementary School gymnasium with Rev. Johann Meethling officiating. Interment followed in the Morton Cemetery. A reception for family and friends then followed at the Bob Lyle Community Center.
She taught elementary school in Randle, Kelso, and Morton as well as serving a Morton Elementary School principal.
In December 1936 she married Reg Lester in the Morton Methodist Church. They spent 63 years togather. Esther spent her lifetime involved in the Morton community as a businesswoman and civic leader.
In 1938, the Lesters started a tree farm which grew to over 320 acres. They were named the Lewis County Tree Farmers of the Year in 1997 and the Washington State Tree Fatmers of the Year in 1998. They owned and operated a Mobil oil and gas distributorship as well as a Buick and GMC dealership in Morton for over 40 years.
Esther was the founder of the Morton Logger's Jubilee Queen's Pagent in 1955. She was affectionately known as "Queen Mom", having celebrated the 50th year of the pageant in 2005.
In 1956, she co-founded the Morton High School Husky Scholarship Fund, which today generates thousands of dollars for high school seniors to continue their education.
A member of the Morton School board and the Morton Chamber of Commerce for many years, Esther was also a 50-year member ot the Daughters of the Nile, the Eastern Star, a member of the Lewis County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol Auxiliary, president of the Morton PTA, a member of the Cowlitz River Historical Society, the Morton Grange, the Western Washington University Alumni Association, and a member of the National Association of POW/MIA Families.
She was also involved with the Mary Bridge Orthopedic Hospital Guild and was a founding member of the Women's Investment Club of Morton. Her hobbies included playing the stock market, a good card game of bridge and betting on the ponies. She and Reg raced Thoroughbred horses under the banner of the"4-L" Stables in Washington, Oregon, and California.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Reg; her son Lt. Comdr. Roderick "Rog" Lester, a U.S. Navy pilot in the Vietnam War; and her sister, Alice Barnum Stahlman.
Esther is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Reg and Nita Lester of Santa Rosa, California; and her grandsons, Reg Lester of Santa Rosa, California and Ryan Lester and his wife Zaidy of Windsor, California.
Funeral services for Esther Lester were in the Morton Elementary School gymnasium with Rev. Johann Meethling officiating. Interment followed in the Morton Cemetery. A reception for family and friends then followed at the Bob Lyle Community Center.
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