Murry A. Hester

Murry Andrew (Andy) Hester, of Raytown, Missouri, died peacefully in his home on March 5th, 2022. He was born to Willie Hester and Bertie Clea (Dooley) Hester on May 27th, 1931. Andy had five sisters and one brother. He was the last living sibling.

Andy is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joan Barbara (Hotchkiss) Hester (January 6, 2015) and his youngest daughter, Donna Leanne Pritchett (July 17, 2021).

He is survived by his three living children, Suzan Jo Vanderbol, David Lloyd Hester, and Andrea Lynne EuDaly, and their spouses, as well as 18 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren (with two more on the way), and 5 great great grandchildren. It is hard to stop listing family there because Andy was also a beloved uncle and great uncle.

Andy served in the Navy during the Korean War. He was a fireman on his supply ship.

He married Joan Hotchkiss on May 20th, 1955.

Andy became a brick mason in 1956. He celebrated 65 years in the brick mason’s local union. He was a union mason supervisor for 37 years and laid brick for about 45 years.

Andy loved coaching softball. He was a well-respected coach for the Raytown Girls Softball Association for 31 years. He coached hundreds of athletes throughout the years, including his daughters and granddaughters. Andy was instrumental in planning and building the Little Blue Trace Sports Complex.

After putting his roots down in the Kansas City area in 1955, Andy was a member of the Raytown Church of Christ and later Blue River Church of Christ. He cherished his church family.

Andy loved to play games. He was affectionately titled the Commissioner of Chicken Foot. The weekly gathering of the chicken foot family became a time of fellowship and prayer for him. He was a beloved friend, dad, grandpa, uncle, and great man. He will be dearly missed.

Visitation will be 6-8PM, Friday, March 18 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri.  Funeral services will be 10AM, Saturday, March 19 at Blue River Church of Christ, 221 NE Woods Chapel Rd., Lee's Summit, Missouri; burial in Forest Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be 6-8PM, Friday, March 18 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri.  Funeral services will be 10AM, Saturday, March 19 at Blue River Church of Christ, 221 NE Woods Chapel Rd., Lee’s Summit, Missouri; burial in Forest Hill Cemetery.