Evalene Ruth Lester

Evalene Ruth Haddock Lester, 92, of Muskogee, passed away Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. She was born November 27, 1931, in Tahlequah to Levi Franklin and Mildred Irene (Garr) Haddock. On March 19, 1949, she married Arthur Lester, and they began an adventure of pastoral work and ministry in Oklahoma and Arkansas and mission work in Alaska. He preceded her in death in 2019, after 70 years of marriage. She was also preceded in death by her son, David Arthur Lester; siblings Lowell Ernest, Levi Louis Jr., Fred Amos Haddock, Helen Allene (Davis)Hackett, and Edna Mary Owens; and son-in-law, Gary Hardage. She is survived by her daughter, Elaine Hardage of Bismarck, Arkansas; daughter-in-law Kathy Lester of Muskogee; four grandchildren: Mel (Marcie) Hardage; Shira (Kevien) Kelley; David Allen (Brandy) Lester and Jennifer (Toby) Carpenter; four great-grandchildren: Michael, Matthew and Micaiah Hardage and Kinlee Lester; three sisters: Joy Beshears, Darla Beshears, Sharon (Joe) Wofford; brother Jerry Haddock (Lynette); sister-in-law Pat Haddock; brothers-in-law Wilburn Lester and John David Birdsell, and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. Evalene loved to laugh, pray, sing, and daily read her Bible. She played guitar, piano, accordion and keyboard. She loved to garden, both vegetables and flowers, and enjoyed sharing the bounty with guests and friends. When she and Arthur pastored, he would invite unexpected guests for Sunday dinner, and she would whip up a full meal, including homemade pies, in an hour using her home-canned goods. Whether it was a visiting preacher or someone from the youth group, they knew they would find a warm welcome and a hot meal at Evalene’s table. They often had a crowd of young people at their house, playing softball, or basketball or just needing to talk. She was a hard worker, staying busy with not only her gardening, but sewing, quilting, embroidering pillowcases and scarves, crocheting, making ceramics, and oil paintings. She was truly a Proverbs 31 woman in taking care of her family. Funeral services celebrating Evalene’s life will be at 11AM, Thursday, January 25, 2024 at Cornerstone Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jerry Haddock officiating. Interment will follow at Park Hill Cemetery with David Allen Lester, Toby Carpenter, Mel Hardage, Michael Hardage, Kevien Kelley, and JC Warner serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Wilburn Lester and John David Birdsell. The family extends warm thanks to the staff at both Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee and Fort Gibson Nursing Home for their care in the last weeks of Evalene’s life.

Evalene Ruth Lester

November 27, 1931 - January 15, 2024