PATRICIA GAYE LESTER: MARCH 20, 1945—JULY 9, 2022
Patricia “Pat” Lester, 77, of Bryan TX passed away on July 9, 2022.
Patricia was a loving and determined woman who was kind and thoughtful. She grew up in Bryan, and she was a 1963 graduate of Stephen F. Austin High School. Because of her love for learning, she earned a PhD from A&M in philosophy and two master’s degrees. She was a librarian for 26 years at the Houston Public Library. June 24, 2011, was deemed “Patricia Lester Day” by the Houston mayor for her hard work and dedication.
She loved learning everything about everything and was strong with her opinions and knowledge. She was true to her beliefs and knew what she wanted. After a lot of research, she converted to the Jewish faith.
Due to her love of jewelry, Patricia had an extensive collection and spent a lot of time with her favorite jewelers. She loved her family and its history and ancestry, needlepoint, and all things cats, especially her own cat, Katie. She didn’t cook, but she had an affinity for kitchen gadgets! She was involved in book clubs, needlepoint get-togethers, and jewelry lover’s clubs. Her most memorable saying is “I probably shouldn't have said that, but oh, well.”
Patricia is preceded in death by her parents, Jack W. Lester, Sr., and Frances Miller Lester, and by her brother Jack W. Lester, Jr. She will be missed by her nephew and his wife, Lance and Chelsea Lester, and their two children, Sadie and Trey. Also, she will be missed by numerous friends who loved her as well.
For many years Paricia’s family owned and operated Lester’s Smart Shop in downtown Bryan.
A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, July 18, at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan, and a graveside service will follow at Restever Memorial Park.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/theeagle/name/patricia-lester-obituary?id=35827933
Charlotte Cole (Wilson)
Gee, I don't know where to start when someone asks me about my childhood years with Gaye. First of all, I was totally infactuated with the beautiful hone where she lived with her parents and brother, Little Jack.. It was absolutley gorgeous. I loved going over to play and when it was warm enough, we'd go swimmimg and change our clothes in the outside dressing room, rather than inside the house. (I was impressed that the pool had its own dressing room.) I remember my mother telling me that she had heard that the hallways and doors were extra wide and that there were no steps because one day Mrs. Lester might have to live in a wheelchair. I didn't know anyone who had such crippling arthritis as severe as Mrs. Lester It made me sad to know that one day she might not be able to walk. Maybe that's why I decided to be a "rehab" nurse. Who knows? Or maybe it was the train ride from the "far away" depot at North Zulch to the Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas for Gaye to see her orthopedist. You see, Gaye didn't like going to the hopsital, so her mother decided that she should invite a friend. I was so blessed. I still have the deck of cards that the pullman gave me.
All of us Travis Wildcats appareciated the Lester's letting us have our 6th grade graduation swimmimg party at their house. I still have the invitation that my mother worte by hand to mail to everyone. And, then Mrs. Lester always threw such fun birthday parties for Gaye. I guess my favorite was when she had the King cake and we all ate way too much cake trying tot find the baby king in one of the pieces.
I think Gaye was the first female in our class to be given a car. Daddy let her come out to our house and drive it in the pasture until she learned not to get too close to an object and scratch it because it was brand spanking new.
Going to the Smart Shop was always such a treat.l It smelled so good and I was always able to stop and chat with Mrs. Cox and find out what Phil was up to. My mother adored shopping at Lester's!
I regret that I didn't get to visit with Gaye very oftten after our graduation. It would have been a treat to relive so many fun times in person rather than just one of us writing them 59 years later. All I can say is, "Thanks for the sweet memories, Gaye". The time I spent with you was very special and meaningful.
Laura Jean Allen (Loving)
Charlotte, your post brought back many memories of "Gaye". As a little girl, I was fortunate to spend time with Gaye in her family home. They were one of the first families to have a color TV set. When spending the night, you truly knew it was time for lights out when her mother "Polly" would tell us goodnight over the intercom! Gaye had an impressive collection of baby dolls and we would have tea parties in the rose garden in the back corner of the property--such fun to live in her world for a weekend. Later on when graduation from SFA parties filled our weekends, during one event at the Lester home, Gaye announced they had a new puppy. We all rushed to the rooms (an apt actually) used by a woman employed to help Gaye's mom --due to her arthritis condition. I remember Lu Fazinno being the first in line, on her hands & knees to pet the puppy. Was she surprised when this huge silver weimerammer came bounding out. The Lester's were a very "giving" family, despite several tragic events-- young Jack had a twin who died at birth and Gaye was born with "club" feet and endured numerous surgeries as a toddler and young girl. May the Lord bless you and keep you in his loving arms.