John Cowan "Jake" Hester, Jr. died peacefully in Oklahoma City, OK on September 1, 2020. He was born December 30, 1929 in Brownwood, TX, the eldest son of John Cowan Hester, Sr. and Mildred Elizabeth McGaugh Hester. Jake's family moved to Lawton, OK when he was five years old where his love of athletics was nurtured.

He graduated from Lawton High School in 1947, and was named Athlete of the year while lettering in Football, Basketball and Track. He met the love of his life, Wilhelmina "Bill" Lewis at the beginning of his Junior year, and they remained together until her death in December 2019. In their senior year they were both on the Prom committee, which shows the lengths he would go to just to be with her.

After their marriage Jake was hired as a job superintendent for Chickasha Plumbing. As his success and acumen grew he started J. C. Hester Company in 1964 and followed with B&N Construction in 1967, Wilhelmina Oil Company in 1972, and H-B-H construction in 1976 along with many other business ventures. He loved working, and felt a strong responsibility to providing for the well-being of his employees.

Jake and Bill loved traveling and fishing and often combined the two, venturing to fishing camps in Canada up by the Arctic Circle, or to their Lake Home at Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas. Their travel adventures included two trips around the World on the Concorde and numerous trips to many parts of Europe. Both obtained private pilot's licenses with Jake as the pilot and Bill as the Navigator.

Jake is survived by four children: Lynn Runyon, Dallas, TX, Brenda Towe, Lawton, OK, John Hester and wife Ladye, Oklahoma City, OK, and Jan Richardson and husband Tom, Norman, OK; nine grandchildren: John Runyon, Seattle, WA, Joseph Billau and wife Cherry, Justin Billau, and Benjamin Billau, all living in England, Michael Towe and wife Ashley, Lawton, OK, Jeffrey Towe, Norman, OK, Carley Hester Morales and husband James, Lawton, OK, Ashley Hester, Columbia, MO, and Julia Hester, Oklahoma City, OK; and five great grandchildren: Victor Morales, Makenzie and Cooper Towe, Sunita, Remy, and Lily Billau. He was predeceased by his wife, his daughter, Robbe Ann Hester, and his brother, David C. Hester.

A private family memorial will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2020. The service may be viewed by following the livestream link at www.beckerfuneral.com or by visiting the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Facebook page.

Friends and family are welcome to join in a celebration of Jake's life afterward at the Lawton Country Club from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Lawton Athletic Foundation, PO Box 188, Lawton, OK, 73502.