Charles Allen Hester, Sr. passed away on April 4, 2017 in Amarillo, TX at age 91. Services will be on Monday, April 10, 2017 at 2:00pm at First United Methodist Church in Canyon, TX with Senior Pastor Rick Enns officiating. Graveside services to follow at Dreamland Cemetery. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Charles was born on June 7, 1925, to Charles Homer Hester and Vera Josephine Enlow Hester in Bryson, Jack County, Texas. He was raised in Bryson and Wellington and graduated from Wellington High School in 1943. After graduation, Charles joined the United States Navy and served during World War II aboard the USS Nicollet (AVS-6) and with a Carrier Aircraft Service Unit on Guam in the South Pacific. After being honorably discharged in 1946, Charles returned to Texas and attended West Texas State College where he played football for the legendary Frank Kimbrough. He was an active member of the “T” Club serving as Vice-President. He received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Physical Education in 1950 and a Master of Arts degree in Administrative Education in 1954. Charles married his college sweetheart, Martha L. Richardson in Borger, TX on June 5, 1949. They were married for 58 years until Martha’s passing on April 23, 2008. Together, they had 4 children, 3 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Charles was a football, basketball and track coach at Amherst, Littlefield, Breckenridge and Amarillo High. While coaching in Breckenridge as an assistant to Joe Kerbel, the team won a football state championship in 1954. Charles accompanied Coach Kerbel to Amarillo High in 1955. He always said coaching football was one of the best jobs he ever had. In 1956, Charles became High School Principal at Dalhart, TX and served as principal until 1961. In 1961, Charles moved his family to Canyon, TX and left the education business to join Taylor-Evans Farm Stores building a successful sales division. In 1980, Charles started his own company, Prairie Sunrise Sales which he owned for 23 years until he retired in 2003. After retiring, Charles didn't slow down. He and Martha traveled, were active in the Good Sam Travel Club and enjoyed spending time with their family and friends. Charles was a long time active member of the First United Methodist Church in Canyon, TX and the Crusaders Sunday school class. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Martha and his daughter Linda Hester Griffin. He is survived by his children Chuck Hester and wife Susan, of Canyon, Barbara Watkins and husband Phil of Amarillo and Joni Hester of Frisco; three granddaughters, Emily Lee and husband Rusty of Canyon, Abby Baker and husband Joe of Gulf Breeze, FL and Chelsea Williams and husband Jon of Conroe, TX; five great-grandchildren, Austin Lee, Cloe and Xavier Baker and Cheyanne and Max Williams; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Dorris Noakes of Cheyenne, WY and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of Ussery-Roan Texas State Veterans Home Unit 800 for their loving care of Charles. Each of you treated Charles with dignity and respect. We cannot thank you enough. The family suggests memorials be made to the Canyon Senior Citizens Center, 1719 5th Avenue, Canyon, Texas 79015.