A visitation was held Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian, Missouri. A Celebration of Life will be held at 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 27 at the V.F.W. in Richland, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, monetary donations may be sent to the Jim Hester Memorial, P.O. Box 1721, Dade City, FL 33526. The donations will go towards the Challengers organization that helps children with disabilities play baseball.
Jim, or Joel as he was known, was born April 13, 1967 in Sterling, Illinois, the oldest of four children born to Jimmie Milton Hester and Sharon Kay (Stacey) Hester. Jim grew up the majority of his youth in southern Missouri. During this time Jim developed a talent for many things, such as being a first baseman and pitcher for baseball and softball; was a pool shark, but would never take your money, and he enjoyed the saxophone and guitar but excelled at the drums. His love for the drums led him to playing professionally with the band Charade. Later in life he played with the band Wild Ride, Paola Opry, and the Adrian Christian Worship Band. Jim married Jeri White on April 17, 1999 in Pulaski County, MO. Jim became an instant father to Skyler White and one year later Garrett Hester was born into this union to complete his family. Jim and Jeri lived in Adrian, Missouri for 11 years before moving to Dade City, Florida in 2010. In winter of 2018 Jim and Jeri moved up from Florida to be closer to family and made their home in Archie, Missouri. Jim was a good provider for his family and spent 23 years working in the fire protection industry.
Jim spent many years coaching little league sports but his love was always for baseball. If he was not coaching his sons, then you could find him watching them play baseball or wrestling. His favorite baseball team was the St. Louis Cardinals and any vacations had to be arranged around their schedule. Jim made a point to watch them play whenever he had the opportunity. He created and enjoyed participating in a fantasy football called “Road to the Superbowl”.
Jim was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Ella Mae Conners, his maternal uncle, Robert Post, and his paternal grandparents, Opal William Hester and Frances Hester. Jim is survived by his wife, Jeri, of the home; two sons, Skyler White of Birmingham, Alabama and Garrett Hester of Archie, Missouri; his parents, Jim and Sharon Hester of Richland, Missouri; one brother, Tim Hester and wife, Karen of Springfield, Missouri; two sisters, Milissa Crossland and husband, Bill of Richland, Missouri and Stephanie Shea and husband, Mark of Laquey, Missouri. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. Jim was also known as a friend to everyone he met and will be missed by all.
Jim, or Joel as he was known, was born April 13, 1967 in Sterling, Illinois, the oldest of four children born to Jimmie Milton Hester and Sharon Kay (Stacey) Hester. Jim grew up the majority of his youth in southern Missouri. During this time Jim developed a talent for many things, such as being a first baseman and pitcher for baseball and softball; was a pool shark, but would never take your money, and he enjoyed the saxophone and guitar but excelled at the drums. His love for the drums led him to playing professionally with the band Charade. Later in life he played with the band Wild Ride, Paola Opry, and the Adrian Christian Worship Band. Jim married Jeri White on April 17, 1999 in Pulaski County, MO. Jim became an instant father to Skyler White and one year later Garrett Hester was born into this union to complete his family. Jim and Jeri lived in Adrian, Missouri for 11 years before moving to Dade City, Florida in 2010. In winter of 2018 Jim and Jeri moved up from Florida to be closer to family and made their home in Archie, Missouri. Jim was a good provider for his family and spent 23 years working in the fire protection industry.
Jim spent many years coaching little league sports but his love was always for baseball. If he was not coaching his sons, then you could find him watching them play baseball or wrestling. His favorite baseball team was the St. Louis Cardinals and any vacations had to be arranged around their schedule. Jim made a point to watch them play whenever he had the opportunity. He created and enjoyed participating in a fantasy football called “Road to the Superbowl”.
Jim was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Ella Mae Conners, his maternal uncle, Robert Post, and his paternal grandparents, Opal William Hester and Frances Hester. Jim is survived by his wife, Jeri, of the home; two sons, Skyler White of Birmingham, Alabama and Garrett Hester of Archie, Missouri; his parents, Jim and Sharon Hester of Richland, Missouri; one brother, Tim Hester and wife, Karen of Springfield, Missouri; two sisters, Milissa Crossland and husband, Bill of Richland, Missouri and Stephanie Shea and husband, Mark of Laquey, Missouri. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. Jim was also known as a friend to everyone he met and will be missed by all.
