Shirley was born on September 8, 1939, in Hagerstown, IL, in her grandparents’ house, the daughter of Harry and Loretta (Reynolds) Hodson. She graduated from Sterling High School in 1957. She married Donald Lester on June 23, 1957. Shirley and Don lived in Sterling for most of their lives before moving to Tampico, IL, in 1997. In September of 2019, they moved back to Sterling to enjoy their final years.
While in Tampico, she was active in many organizations. She was a member of the Tampico Methodist Church, where she served on the board as secretary. She was also the secretary for the Tampico Historical Society and volunteered at the Ronald Reagan birthplace. In 2007, she was active in updating the Reagan Park. She was on the board at the Tampico Community Building and active in Royal Neighbors of America. She started the Giving Tree to raise money to help families in need at Christmas. She was the chairman of the SHS Class of 1957 class reunions.
While living in Sterling, Shirley worked at Emerald Hill Country Club (10 years) and Parkway Restaurant (3 years) before getting a job at Lee Wayne Company (now Halo Branded Solutions). She worked at Lee Wayne for 24 years before retiring.
Shirley and Don loved camping, spending many years visiting campgrounds around the country, but they felt a connection to the campground in Thomson, IL. They loved staying active through both biking and gardening, and always spent the holidays decorating their house and yard. Shirley was a lifelong dog lover, housing countless dogs throughout her life.
She is survived by two daughters, Calleen Lester of Millcreek, UT, and Teri (Del) Preston of LeClaire, IA; two grandsons, Andrew (Katie) Preacher of Arlington, VA, and Charles Preacher of Washington, DC.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; her parents, Lorretta Woodyatt and Harry Hodson; two brothers, Roger and Teddy Woodyatt.
Visitation will be held on Friday, April 24, from 4:00-6:00 PM at the McDonald Funeral Home in Sterling, 505 1st Avenue, and Saturday from 10:00-11:00 AM. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 25, with Pastor Esther Lee officiating. Shirley will be buried at Oak Knoll Memorial Park in Sterling, IL.
A special thanks to Morningside Senior Living, where Shirley enjoyed the last 20 months of her life. She was able to make treats and her much-loved potato salad for the residents and was the welcoming ambassador when new residents moved into the facility. She enjoyed the weekly lunch outings as well as the daily crafts and activities. Her flowerpots and bird feeders will always be in the courtyard as a memory of the many friends she made there.
A special thanks to Dr. Alhareth Alsayed and his staff for the care they provided in the past four years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rock River Hospice and Home in Sterling, IL, or Tampico United Methodist Church.
