Norma Jean (Murphy) Lester

Norma Jean (Murphy) Lester of Gilbert, WV passed from this life to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ her beloved husband Burgoyne and family awaiting her in Heaven on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at Williamson Ky.

Born March 22, 1934 at Thacker Hollow, Matewan, WV.  She was the daughter of the late John and Caroline (Mullins) Murphy.  She was the wife of the late Burgoyne Lester and the late Seth Phillips.

She was also preceded in death by her twin sister: Erma Murphy Cline; sisters: Dolly Murphy Hardin and Ruth Murphy; brothers: Boyd Murphy, Ed Murphy, Walter Murphy, Wilson Murphy, Wallace Murphy, Chester Muprhy, Hurbert Murphy, Millard Murphy, Otis Murphy, Johnny Murphy, Monroe Murphy and Arnold Murphy; great grandson: Gabriel Lester.

She is survived by: her daughter: Retha T. Geehan and son in law Major General Brian I. Geehan (US Army – Retired) of Brandon, Fl; her son: Clinton Lester and daughter in law Connie Lester of Gilbert, WV; her son: Jerry Lynn Lester of Arcadia, Fl; and her son Burgoyne Lester, Jr. and daughter in law Alysia Lester of Rock Hill, SC; her surviving seven grandchildren include: Clinton Heath Lester of Statesville, NC; Angel Lester of Gilbert, WV; Seth Lester, Daniel Lester and Lacey Lester of Arcadia, FL; William Brent Lester of Rock Hill, SC; and Victoria Brook Lester of Bluffton, SC; Norma’s great grandchildren are: Paisley Lester, Zachery Lester, Jaden Toler and Ryder Cruz Toler.

Friends and loved ones may join our family for the viewing at 12:00 -1:00 pm and a Life Celebration and Memorial Funeral Service at 1:00 pm at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Gilbert, WV on Thursday, February 14, 2019, Pastor Ronnie Lester and Deacon Raymond Lester will preside.  Norma will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Burgoyne Lester at Oak Log Cemetery, Baisden, WV following services.

Special acknowledgements and everlasting thanks and appreciations are extended by our family to The Gilbert Family Health Clinic and Adkins Pharmacy for their care and special considerations in taking care of Norma’s needs.  They were always there for her.  She and we also thank her special and dear caregivers; Trish Kennedy, Rhonda Shepard and Becky Hatfield; their kindness, caring love and constant care will never be forgotten.  They were and are true angels.

Norma will be carried to her final resting place by Clinton Lester, Jerry Lester, Junior Lester, Seth Lester, William Brent Lester, Heath Lester and Brian Geehan.  Honorary pallbearers are: Terry Sammons, Tim Rutledge, Pastor Clayton Cline, Pastor Ronnie Lester, Donald Lester, Kenneth Cline, Chuck Allen, Harold Noe, Raymond Lester, Phillip Murphy, Randy Murphy, Edward Murphy and Larry Murphy.

Norma loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the love of her life was her dear husband Burgoyne and her four children.  She lived and loved them dearly and more than anything else in this life.

Jesus was first in her life and she taught her children of his love and his redemptive grace.  She was a devoted member of the First Missionary Baptist Church and will be eternally grateful to Pastor Ronnie and Linda Lester for their love and caring Christian leadership.  She thanks the ladies of the First Missionary Baptist Church and the Gilbert Presbyterian Church for their love and for always looking in on her over the years.

Norma loved traveling! She visited most of the states of this great country.  Her foreign travels included trips to Israel (where she was re-baptized in the Jordan River), Egypt and England.  Over the years she loved attending the Murphy and Lester family reunions where she delighted in loving and being with family and friends.

Norma our loving mother will always be in our hearts.  She was truly our blessing and the sunshine of our lives.  Please join us in remembering her life with us -- a life of love and dedication to Jesus, her family and her friends.

We wish to extend our thanks to the First Missionary Baptist Church of Gilbert, Mounts Funeral Home, and the staff of Larry Joe Harless Community Center.

All are cordially invited to a reception dinner at the Larry Joe Harless Community Center to remember her and celebrate her life.  The reception and dinner will begin at 5:00 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

The family of Norma Jean Lester thanks you from our hearts for your prayers and love.  In lieu of flowers we ask that you send donation to her church the First Missionary Baptist Church of Gilbert.  

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