Margaret Ellen Neal Lester

Margaret Ellen Neal Lester, a loving mother, passed away on February 2, 2022 at the age of 87 in Jamestown, Tennessee.

Margaret is survived by her children, Hubert and wife Stephanie, Scott, Monica, and Jessica; her grandchildren, the late Jackie Lester, Elizabeth Lester, and Beckham Lester; her great grandchildren, Rett South and Ryan Sidwell; her brother, Mike Neal, and her beloved extended family and friends.

The daughter of the late Lois Neal and the late Elmer Neal, Margaret was born on February 25, 1934 in Forbus, Tennessee.  Margaret graduated from York High School and attended Nashville Business College on a scholarship. In 1954 she married the love of her life H.B. “Dudge” Lester.  They lived a happy and long life, married 65 years.  Family was a priority for Margaret; she spent countless hours working with the family business, keeping the home, and supporting her children in all their activities.

Margaret was a courageous and determined woman.  From her roots as a share-croppers daughter, she moved away from home to attend business college, living and working in the home of a sponsor.  She and Dudge worked to grow the family business while she raised their family.  Necessity being what it is, she constantly demonstrated her ability to do anything that was needed—from sewing clothes for her kids, to gardening and preserving the bounty of those efforts, to helping lay rock and build furniture.

She was a caring and nurturing person.  She enjoyed cooking and sharing delicious food was how she expressed love for family and friends.  She was an avid and accomplished quilter, having learned from both her mother and her mother-in-law, Iris Lester.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 1 P.M.  at Mundy’s Funeral Home in Jamestown, with burial to follow in the Fentress Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 11 A.M. - 1 P.M. at Mundy F8uneral Home in Jamestown

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Fentress County Food Bank or the American Heart Association in Margaret’s honor.

The Mundy Funeral Home in Jamestown is in charge of arrangements for Margaret Ellen Neal Lester.

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