Jean Elizabeth Hester

December 24, 1930 – January 26, 2026

Jean Carpenter Hester, a 95 lb., 4’10 3/4”, determined, intelligent, energetic, caring daughter, chemist, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away in Stanley, NC on January 26, 2026. She was born December 24, 1930, in the Vale area of Lincoln County, NC. She attended Appalachian State Teacher’s College, graduating in 1952 with a teaching degree, concentrating on math and science. Her classmates named her “most intellectual” in her graduating class. In December of 1952, she married John Robert Hester. They moved to Rochester, NY where she worked for Eastman Kodak Company as a Research Chemist. No matter the weather, she enjoyed being outside, and loved getting out to walk in snowstorms. They lived in Rochester for 34 years, returning to Lincoln County, NC when her husband retired in 1986. While residing in Denver, NC, she enjoyed reading, playing bridge, doing needlework, cutting flowers, baking bread, and sewing special things for her children and grandchildren. In her community she worked in the local library gardens and taught adults to read. She always saw the best in everyone, never complained, and had boundless energy. The family affectionately referred to as the “energizer bunny.”

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, John Claude and Ruth Rhodes Carpenter, her husband John Robert Hester, and her siblings, Mary B. Abernethy, Jack Carpenter and Betty Keener Kraemer. She is survived by a sister, Sue Connor of Denver, NC, two daughters, Cynthia Hester Buchanan (David) of Belmont, NC and Kathy Hester Ward (Ben) of Norfolk, VA, four grandchildren (BJ, Jeff, Taylor, Alyssa) and one great grandchild.

Per her request, no memorial service will be held. The family will hold a celebration of life in the spring at Grandfather Mountain, where Jean & John had their first date.