Funeral Services for Jimmy Lee Lester, 82, of Broken Arrow, Okla., will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at the Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home of Purcell.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at the Wilson-Little Funeral Home.
Mr. Lester passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa in the company of his loving family.
Born August 23, 1943, in Purcell, Okla., Jimmy was the second of five children born to Carl and Susie Lester.
He was raised in Washington and attended school there, graduating with the Warrior’s Class of 1961. He then attended East Central State College in Ada, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Education.
While in college, he fell in love with a young lady named Carolyn Sue Blackwell who attended the same college and worked alongside Jimmy at a local cafeteria. At first Carolyn wasn’t so sure, but Jimmy’s sense of humor, quick wit, charming demeanor and strength of character ultimately won her affection. They were the perfect couple and later married on August 9, 1963, at the First Baptist Church in Wayne.
Jimmy was a caring educator, having coached baseball, basketball and football, both for Tupelo and Sulphur, and taught math, before taking a job in Tulsa. They made their home in Broken Arrow, where together they raised three sons, David, Rendall and Marc. Jimmy was a loving provider and a hard worker, excelling as an Information Technology Professional. After a long and successful career, Jimmy retired in 2009 from Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Jimmy loved his John Deere tractor, working outdoors, hunting, fishing, and tending to his vegetable garden. Jimmy had a ‘green thumb’ and enjoyed growing watermelons to share with his many grandchildren. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed bowling and an occasional round of golf. He loved OU Football, the Dallas Cowboys and rooted for OSU.
Jimmy was famous for his sweet-tooth, and enjoyed Twizzlers, peanuts, Coca-Cola, fudgsicles and chocolate turtles. Above all he was a man of great faith; he cherished Carolyn and his boys and was a proud Grandad. He will be dearly missed!
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Susie Lester and brothers, Lewis Gaylen Lester and Duane Lester.
Jimmy is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Carolyn Lester; his boys, David Lester and wife, Dianne, of Bartlett, Tenn., Rendall Lester and wife, Becky, of Dallas, Texas, and Marc Lester of Broken Arrow; two brothers, Bill Lester and wife, Patti, of Purcell and Rick Lester and wife, Ginger, of Houston, Texas; his pride and joy, grandchildren, Amanda Lester of Austin, Texas, Michael Lester and wife, Myrna Olaya, of Dallas, Texas, Zachary Lester of Dallas, Texas, David Cox and wife, Kelsi, and Stephanie Johnston and husband, Brad, of Bartlett, Tenn.; seven great-grandchildren, Austin and wife, Kassidy, Zachary, Kaleb, Kameron, Ashlyn and husband, Landon, Ryan and Jaxon; six great-great-grandchildren, Everly, Adalynn, Abel, Grayson, Presley and Dallas, and a host of family and friends.
Online condolences may be made at www.wilsonlittle.com.