Dolores Joyce ("Lois") Hester

Dolores Joyce Foster-Hester was born August 28, 1944, at home at 1311 North Jefferson, to Dee and Willetta Foster. Today we honor and give thanks to our Heavenly Father above, who so graciously blessed us with our dear mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, or whatever relationship you had with Dolores Joyce Hester.

Dolores grew up with 14 sisters and brothers and attended St. Bridget’s Catholic Church and School. She graduated from Dunbar Elementary School, Sumner High School, and Forest Park Community College. Dolores participated in the American Woodsman Bugle Corps and was a majorette at Sumner High School. She always had a strong work ethic and would go on to hold several degrees and work for various companies. In 1963, she worked at the Homer G. Phillips Hospital as a clerk interviewer. Dolores always tried to better herself and others and knew that education was the means to achieve success. She worked for the St. Louis Housing Authority and at SLATE as a Supervisor for ten years, while also working at H&R Block as a tax editor and finance processor. She also studied business law at night school. While working as a teacher’s aide within the St. Louis Public Schools, Dolores’ love for education and ultimately her career as a teacher was birthed.

She earned a B.S. in Elementary Education, K-12th grade, from Harris Stowe State University, specializing as a reading specialist with a focus in psychology. She then pursued a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Instruction and Disciplinary Studies. During her teaching career, Dolores taught K-6 and 12th grade, as well as in the juvenile jail reading program as a reading coordinator. She became a reading specialist in the St. Louis Public School and Wellston Schools spanning a career of 40 years as a teacher, during which she was site coordinator for 20 years.

Dolores loved working with children, and even though she retired from teaching in June 2010, she continued to work with children in the daycare she opened and ran successfully until GOD called her home.

Dolores was preceded in death by: her parents; one son, Daron Hester; and seven siblings, Kirk Foster, Edward Foster, Mynetta Foster, Helen Mitchell, Marylin Foster, William Foster, and Marvin Foster.

She leaves to cherish precious memories: two daughters, Rhonda McKenzie (Daryl) and Robin (Tiny) Foster; one son, David Hester; six siblings, Willetta Miller, Walter Foster, Tyrone Eddington, Sylvia Foster, Dorinda Kyles, and Deborah Foster; grandchildren, Glennetta Haymon, Rosetta HaymonRobbins (Sean), Cayla McKenzie, James McKenzie (son), Davette Hester (Boobie), Chelsea Hester, and Davon Hester; great-grandchildren, Jaida Grace Haymon, Bryson Dean Haymon, Brooklyn Marie Haymon, Brylei Jeanette Hester, Dawson DeAndre McKenzie-Casimere, and Bella Marie Brooks; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

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