Joe Francis Hester lived in Oklahoma City the majority of his life. A product of Putnam City Schools, Joe graduated in 1970 from Putnam City High School. After going to radio school in Kansas City, he married his high school sweetheart, Laretha Risinger Hester, when he was 19, and enjoyed a wonderful 35 years of marriage with her. Their lives revolved around the family events that take place while raising two precious children. As children do, Joe and Laretha's children, Joseph and Tiffany grew up and found loves of their own, married, and blessed them with a beautiful granddaughter, Joslyn, who became the apple of Papa's and Mimi's eyes. Deciding that he was confident enough to start his own business, in 1997 Joe became sole proprietor of AFAB Services. He could build, rebuild, or construct anything that he put his mind and hands to, and blessed his family and friends with many handmade gifts. He enjoyed working with his customers and prided himself on being dependable and efficient. His business brought him great joy and satisfaction. After his wife died suddenly in 2005, Joe reconnected with many high school friends and enjoyed the parties, reunion, and friends with whom he rekindled relationships. It was at this time that he reconnected with Jane Lockridge whom he had grown up with. They became fast friends and it was her mission to get him through his grief and see the joy in life once again. Two years later he proposed to her outside of their 6th grade classroom at Windsor Hills Elementary. They knew from the beginning that they were soul mates and lived every day as a tribute to their love story. Their families blended without effort and they enjoyed a loving, peaceful relationship throughout the past several years. The sparkle of his blue eyes, his generous nature, loving spirit, integrity, character and ornery dry sense of humor will be missed every day of our lives. Joe is survived by his children, Joseph and Sarah Hester, Tiffany and Kenny Keller, Granddaughter Joslyn Keller, Stepdaughters Lauren and Kelsey White, brother Charles and Tammy Hester, best friends in the entire world, Charles and Cynthia Wilbanks, and devoted wife and love, Jane. He was blessed with countless nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Viewing will be Sunday, November 1, noon-9pm with the family receiving guests from 4-6pm at Mercer-Adams. Services will be Monday, November 2, 4:30pm at Mercer-Adams Chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Leukemia Society would be appreciated. To share a memory or condolence, visit www.mercer-adams.com