James Randy Hester

James Randy Hester, 67, passed away peacefully on October 7. He was born in Savannah, GA, May 16, 1946, to the late James Hershel Hester and Matile Weaver Hester. Jim graduated from Richmond Hill High School and Georgia State University with a business degree in 1969. He also earned his M.A. from Central Michigan University. He served as a pilot in the Air Force from 1969-1975 based at McGuire AFB and was employed by Exxon Chemical in Houston until he retired.

Jim’s passions in life included his late wife, Ann, fishing, piloting small aircraft, and the great outdoors.

He fulfilled a lifelong dream of building a home in the mountains that he could share and enjoy with his family and friends. He loved to fish and one of his greatest pleasures was teaching others how to catch “the big one.” Or maybe he was just showing off *wink* A lifelong aviator, he owned several small aircraft together with his friends over the years and had many wonderful adventures with them. Although grounded by cancer, his love of flying never waned and he cherished the moments he could sit on the patio of his home and watch the airliners coming in for a landing at Houston Intercontinental. Now he has joined those great birds in the sky, slipped the surly bonds of earth and truly touched the face of God.

He is survived by his son, Kevan Hershel Hester and his wife Mira, his grandsons John James and Ethan, and his siblings Pam Woods, Gary Hester and Jerry Hester. He was preceded in death by his second wife, Ann, to whom he was married in 2003.