Obituaries

Lawrence Leon Jester, Jr.

Photo of Lawrence  Leon  Jester, Jr.
1928-2018 Lawrence Leon Jester, Jr. passed, while sleeping, from his earthly home to his Heavenly home on Tuesday, the 6th of November, 2018. Lawrence was born in Clebit, Oklahoma, on the 20th of June 1928, to Lawrence Leon Jester and Hazel Walker Jester. He graduated from Texarkana, Texas High School in 1945. Lawrence graduated from Texas Tech University, in 1949, with a degree in Civil Engineering. Upon graduation from Texas Tech, he began working for TxDOT in Marshall, Texas. From 1950 to 1952, he served in the Philippines during the Korean War as a member of the 29th Engineer Topographic Battalion, mapping the islands. Upon returning to the Atlanta District in 1952 as an Engineering Assistant, he was assigned to various projects with an increasing scope of responsibility. It was here, in Atlanta, that he met the love of his life, Martha Gail Caver. They were married on November 7, 1953 at Laws Chapel, in Atlanta, Texas. In 1958, the Jesters moved to Texarkana. Here, Lawrence established the new Texarkana Residency, supervising design and construction of a number of important projects: I-30 through Bowie County, including the State Line Interchange; US 59/71 Red River Bridge between Texas and Arkansas in coordination with the State of Arkansas; US 259 Red River Bridge between Texas and Oklahoma in coordination with the State of Oklahoma. Lawrence was also involved with the installation of the first high rise illumination for an Interstate Interchange at the Texas/Arkansas/I-30 State Line Interchange. In 1972, Lawrence was appointed District Engineer of the Atlanta District, becoming the first Texas Tech graduate to be appointed as District Engineer by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). He continued as District Engineer until his retirement, in 1993, after 44 years with TxDot. As District Engineer, Lawrence was responsible for design, construction, maintenance and operation of all highways in the Atlanta District. The Atlanta District borders Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma; therefore, Lawrence was responsible for coordination at all points of highway interface in the District with these States, more States than any other TxDOT District. After retiring from TxDOT, Lawrence entered private engineering practice as Senior Transportation Engineer for Jacobs Carter Burgess Engineers, Inc. at their Atlanta, Texas, Project Office working on numerous upgrade and relocation projects in the ARK-LA-TEX area. Lawrence was recognized by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers for outstanding service to the State of Texas as a Professional Engineer for over 50 years, having received his license in 1954. Lawrence served as President of the Sulphur River Chapter of Texas Society of Professional Engineers. Lawrence was a member and Past President of the Atlanta Rotary Club and was named a Paul Harris Fellow for exceptional service as a Rotarian. He also served on the Executive Board of the Caddo Area Council of Boy Scouts of America. In 1991, he was named Man of the Year by the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Lawrence was a member of the Atlanta Memorial Hospital Board of Directors for ten years and, in addition, served on the Atlanta Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. In 2008, Lawrence was inducted into the Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering Academy of Texas Tech University. Lawrence is preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Hazel Jester, and his younger brother, Thomas Walker Jester. Lawrence is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 65 years, Martha Gail Caver Jester, of Atlanta, Texas; by his brother Bobby Jester and wife Charlotte Austin Jester of Magnolia, Texas, and their children: Lucretia Jester Adams and husband, Dr. John Adams of Lubbock, Texas; Melissa Jester Frazier and husband Stan Frazier of Baytown, Texas; Nannette Jester Burrage of Spring, Texas; Bobby Jester Jr. and wife Deloris Jester of Tomball, Texas; Larry Jester and wife, Ellen Jester of Spring, Texas. Also surviving Lawrence is his dear sister-in-law, Stephany Stephens Jester of Austin, Texas, and her children: Tiffany Jester Smith and husband Denzil Smith of Austin, Texas; Stephen Jester and wife Suzanne Jester of Blanco, Texas. Lawrence is also survived by 20 Great nieces and nephews. Lawrence and Martha loved and cherished their seven nephews and nieces as their own. Services will be held in the chapel of Hanner Funeral Home, 103 West Main Street, Atlanta, Texas, Saturday, November 17, 2018, with Rev. Tim Brown of Atlanta, Texas, officiating. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by funeral services at 2 p.m. Graveside services will follow at Laws Chapel Cemetery. Pall bearers will be Dr. John Adams, Stan Frazier, Stephen Jester, Denzil Smith, Thomas Smith and Kaden Burrage. Henry Allen King, Lawrence's best friend, will act as honorary pallbearer. Lawrence was lovingly and sacrificially cared for during the his last years by caregivers Chryn Abraham, Winnie Green, Ya'Keitha Green, Lutreasa Jackson, and Marche' Smith. His desire was to live out his life by the lake, in the house that he and Martha built 45 years ago. These precious women made that possible. The family owes them a continuing debt of gratitude as they now do the same for the love of his life, Martha.

Published November 15, 2018

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