Howard Monroe Lester was born November 17, 1924 in Jericho Springs, Missouri, first born to Jesse and Sarah Lester. The family lived in Missouri, California (during the depression) and Nebraska. Graduating from High School in Corona, California, he went on to attend Bethany Nazarene College, attaining a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Religion in Bethany, Oklahoma, in 1950. Howard met Oneta Rhodes at college and they were married, June 10, 1949 and married over 56 years. Moving to Kansas City, Missouri, Howard attended and graduated Nazarene Theological Seminary with a Master's of Divinity Degree. The couple took their first pastorate in Seagraves, Texas and continued pastoring over 18 years throughout west Texas: Lubbock, Stephenville, Dodson, Burkburnett, and Wichita Falls; also Seminole, Oklahoma. After retiring in Oklahoma, Howard earned an additional Master's Degree from Bethany Nazarene College. He also attended and served in Bethany First Church of the Nazarene Church forty five years. Over forty of those years, he taught a Sunday-School class and spent much time each week, preparing the lesson. Howard continued studying Greek throughout his life, practicing and memorizing the language faithfully. During his years pastoring and afterward, Howard maintained a paint contracting business. This life skill, learned when he came to Bethany in 1946, to work his way through college, also provided the financial base throughout most of his life. Howard loved to garden and kept up a large vegetable garden wherever he lived, always sharing the harvest with neighbors and those in need. He was preceded in death by his wife, Oneta Lester [April 27, 1924 - February 12, 2006], granddaughters, Tonya and Allison, and sister, JoAnn Clark. Survivors include his children, Ellene Meece and husband David - Colorado, Les Lester and wife Jacque - Florida, Ron Lester and wife Cara - Oklahoma; 8 grandchildren, Jeremy, Jackson, Kyle, Matt, Josh, Paul, Mathew, and Elizabeth; 11 great-grandchildren, Drake, Riley, Abi, Luke, Leia, Kielyn, Lacey, Violet, Derrick, Van, and Jack; one sister, Ella Martin, and three brothers, Ben, Chuck, and Bob Lester. Viewing will be Friday November 28, 10am-9pm with family present from 6-8pm at Mercer-Adams. Services to celebrate his life will be Saturday, November 29, 2:00pm at Mercer-Adams Funeral Home with interment to follow in Bethany Cemetery, Bethany, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Howard Lester Trust as a scholarship fund for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral Service Saturday, November 29, 2014 02:00 PM Mercer-Adams Chapel 3925 N. Asbury Bethany, OK 73008