James Donald “Jim” Hester, age 82 of Shelbyville, passed from this life May 24, 2024, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center with loved ones by his side.
A Shelbyville native, Jim was born April 21, 1942, to the late Joel H. Hester and Clarice Morton Lentz Hester.
Jim was a graduate of Community High School class of 1960. He served his country honorably in the Vietnam War having served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968. In 1961, he married the love of his life Mary Faye Burton and they spent 63 wonderful years together raising their daughter, Tina. They resided in California for 36 years before moving back to Shelbyville in 2002 to take care of his parents. He owned his own business (Aquarius Enterprises) for 25 years. Some of his favorite things he enjoyed doing was driving dune buggies at Gordon’s Well Sand Dunes, playing with his PTSD companion “Scout,” as well as being an avid lover of antique cars. He was a member of Eastside Church of Christ.
He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Mary Faye Burton Hester; their daughter, Tina Renee Hester Gymer and husband Jonathan; grandchildren, Haylee Renee Gymer, Justin Doyle Gymer, and Heidee Renee Gymer.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in the chapel of Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Darryl Lewis and Mike Richardson officiating. Military honors and burial will follow at Pressgrove Cemetery in the Longview community.
Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, May 28, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Funeral Home.
Doak-Howell Funeral Home is serving the family.
