Dorothy Jo Hester O’Brien, 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 4, 2022 at Baptist Hospital in Fort Smith. She was born December 1, 1932 in Hartford, Arkansas to John and Thelma Wooten. She was a Christian and member of the First Baptist Church of Hartford and is now in Heaven with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She worked hard all her life and spent many years working in manufacturing in Fort Smith. Since her retirement, she has dedicated her retirement years to taking care of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was the most loving and caring mother and grandmother, always giving her time and energy to help in any way she could. She was an avid gardener and loved her flowers and plants. To say she had a green thumb was an understatement, she could break off a branch and grow a tree!
Dorothy (Dot) is preceded in death by her first husband, Jefferson Davis Hester; her second husband, James O’Brien and her oldest son, George Hester and infant son, Buddy Hester. She is survived by her sons, Paul Hester and wife, Kathy, Gene Hester and wife, Debbie and Roy Hester and wife, Shari. She leaves behind ten grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly. She also leaves behind one sister, Norma Shook, two brothers, Wayne Wooten and wife, Brenda and Murl Wooten; sister-in-law, Ruby Wooten and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Thursday, September 8 at Hartford First Baptist Church with burial at Hartford Memorial Park under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Wednesday from 1 – 7 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 5 – 7 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Lonnie Hester, Woody Hester, Kyle Hester, Jeff Hester, Brady Hester and Cogan Hester.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
