Beatrice Hester

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Beatrice Hester, 86, of Bloomfield died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004, at Beverly Healthcare.

She was born Oct. 4, 1917, at Morehouse, Mo., daughter of Ernest and Minnie Cantrell Faulkner. She and Paul Hester were married May 19, 1934, at Beech Grove Church near Bloomfield. He died Aug. 15, 1978.

Hester retired as a cook from Bloomfield Public Schools. She was a charter member of the Assembly of God Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Betty Ann Gilmore of Bloomfield; two sons, Gary Hester of Bloomfield, Jerry Hester of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; five brothers, George Faulkner of Marble Hill, Mo., Carl Faulkner of Munford, Tenn., Gilbert Faulkner and John Vaughn of Dexter, Mo., Sam Faulkner of Bloomfield; three sisters, Geneva Nelson of Bloomfield, Virginia Merideth of Elizabethtown, Ky., Donna Faulkner of Bend, Ore.; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, three brothers, and a sister.

Friends may call Friday at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home from 9 a.m. until time of service.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Bill Fox and Bob Holland officiating. Burial will be in Walker Cemetery near Bloomfield.