Wayne Lester

Wayne Lynford Lester, 72, lovingly known as "Pa", of Shell Knob, Missouri (formerly of Alliance, Nebraska), passed away on November 11, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. His funeral service will be held at 10:00AM on Monday, November 16, 2015 at the Moore Southlawn Funeral Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma with Edward Mosier, Minister of Park Plaza Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will follow the funeral at Westlawn Cemetery in Henryetta, Oklahoma at 1:00PM. A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2015 from 3:00-5:00PM at the Moore Southlawn Funeral Home. Wayne was born in Pryor, Oklahoma on December 21, 1942. He was the third child, and the second son, of the late Carl Francis Lester and Julia B. Lester, who survives him. Wayne was baptized on July 11, 1954 and was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. He graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa and attended Oklahoma State University Technical School where he studied Electrical Engineering. He was recruited from college by the Ralston Purina Company and in the 50 years that he spent as an engineer in various companies, management positions and industries, Wayne developed a reputation for his focus on creating process improvements which resulted in operational efficiencies within the manufacturing process. His career led he and his family to live in various locations including Wichita, KS, Buffalo, NY, Oklahoma City, OK, Springfield, MO, Dallas, TX and most recently in Alliance, Nebraska where he worked for Dayco (Parker Hannifin) as a Plant Engineer for over 20 years prior to his retirement and relocation to Shell Knob, Missouri on Table Rock Lake. Wayne was the consummate outdoorsman as well as he was a steward for conservation and to say he was an avid hunter and fisherman would be an understatement. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge as much as he did being a participant and he introduced many to the activities that he so enjoyed. He was also a voracious reader and would read "everything about anything" and applied his knowledge to the world around him. Pa was best known for his love of family and it meant the world to him. The hugs were endless, the life-lessons were priceless and the impact he made on their lives will be forever lasting. These memories with Pa are irreplaceable and will be cherished forever. Pa is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Charlotte Lester (Wright), daughters, Sherri (Robert) Arend of Overland Park, KS, Debbie (Tom) Baldwin of Springfield, MO, Julie Lester of Shell Knob, MO, as well as 7 grand-children Alexandra, Michael and Nicholas Arend, Lucas (Jessica) Wilson, Samantha Duffy, Jacob Duffy, Charlotte Ann Saunders (Mikey) and 8 great-grandchildren Grace, Leila, Kael, Kerrigan, Halynn, Kira, Aiden, Oliver, his sister Janetta "Sissy" Burgess of Tulsa, OK, his brother Carl Lester of Tulsa, OK, sisters-in-law Nancy Ward, Karen (Will) Streetman, Tulsa, OK, two nieces, Karla (Bill) Rose of Henryetta, OK, Amber Frost of Tulsa, OK as well as numerous great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Carl F. Lester, his loving niece, Amy Lester, great-granddaughter, Lylli, brothers-in-law Kenneth Burgess, Dewayne Ward and sister-in-law Delores Lester. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com

Wayne Lester

December 21, 1942 - November 11, 2015