FORT WORTH — Harry Chester Sr., 84, passed away Sunday, June 21, 2015.
Funeral: 11 a.m. Thursday in Laurel Land Chapel of Chimes, with visitation 10 to 11 a.m. at 7100 Crowley Rd. Fort Worth, Texas.
Interment: Laurel Land Memorial Park, 7100 Crowley Rd. Fort Worth, Texas
In the early morning of this past Father’s Day, June 21, 2015, Harry Chester, Sr., went to meet his Lord and Savior. Born the third child of John Ivor Chester, Sr. and Willie Mae Chester on September 24, 1930 in Orange, Texas. Harry Lee Chester, Sr. spent his last days surrounded by his six children and many of his grandchildren and great grandchildren by his bedside.
Harry was predeceased by his father and mother and his sister, Elsie Marie Chester Southwell. He leaves behind his brother, John Ivor Chester and wife Iris of Plano, Texas, Helen Chester Smith of Beaumont, Texas. Also his oldest son and care giver, Billy Wayne Chester of Benbrook, Texas, son Harry Lee Chester Jr. and wife Rebecca of Portland, Texas, son Charles Ivor Chester and wife Sheila of Orangefield, Texas, son Felix Richard Chester and wife Debbie of College Station, Texas, daughter Shurla Chester Swope and husband Mike Swope of West Orange, Texas and daughter Shelly Chester Alexander and husband Blair Alexander, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Also twenty grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren and one great great grandchild as well as his former wife and mother of his six children, Frances Wilson Chester of Bridge City, Texas.
Harry Lee Chester Sr. graduated from Orangefield High School in Orangefield, Texas in 1948. In his early career he worked for Gulf Oil. Harry also served on the Nederland, Texas Independent School District Board of Trustees in the early to mid sixties as well as earning Master Free Mason status.
After leaving Gulf Oil, his oil refining career took him to Europe, the Middle East and South America in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. Allowing his family to travel with him to these parts of the world in 1981. Harry retired from Amenado Hess, moved his family to Houston for a short time then bought a midsize ranch in East Texas, Chireno, Texas. Where he and his wife raised peach trees, enjoyed cattle and horses along with visits from their children and many grandchildren over the years. While in Chireno, Texas, Harry was made Deacon of First Baptist Church of Chireno, Texas where he and his wife were members. In 2007, Harry was moved to Benbrook, Texas with his oldest son, Billy Wayne and became an active member of Trinity Hills Baptist Church where he enjoyed worshiping and making many friends.
The family wishes to thank Covenant Hospice and caregivers from Synergy Health Care Agency for their loving care in the last days of Harry’s life.
Pallbearers: Jason Chester, Kevin Chester, Michael Chester, Mark Chester, Charles Chester Jr., Paul Blackburn.
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