John William Wester

John William Wester Sr. of Quitman, Texas passed away peacefully in the early hours of June 23, 2025 in Tyler, TX. 

John William, better known as JW, was born to Albert and Christine Wester on July 27, 1939 in Horatio, Arkansas. He was the first born of seven children. They moved back and forth from Arkansas to Texas until they finally settled in Wylie, Texas. Depending on the season, he would be pulled out of school to work all day in the cotton fields as early as 6 years old. He loved sports and played football, but his real love was basketball. He never grew tired of playing it and became a huge Dallas Mavericks fan. His Wylie High School senior class of 1957 was a tight knit group. They all stayed friends and would meet up throughout the years for class reunions. 

He married Laura Cooper on June 19, 1959 where they were blessed with 5 children. They were married for 28 years.

 He later married Cindy Kennedy where he gained 2 more children whom he loved as his own and adopted them to make it official. He loved Cindy so much he married her twice!

 Throughout his life he loved going fishing, bowling, traveling, but his real love was gardening. He would grow vegetables and fruits at every home he ever had. He even purchased 5 acres just to have a huge garden. He learned to make jelly and was a pro at canning vegetables. Many nights were spent in front of the tv shelling beans to can. One of the most memorable garden moments happened when he was out tilling up the garden on those 5 acres and he jeans got stuck in the blade of the tiller and started cutting into his leg. He ended up spending 40 days and 40 nights in the hospital from that accident. From then on he convinced everyone ( especially his grandkids) that the giant scar on his leg (down to the bone) was from a shark bite! 

JW was a Christian and raised his family in church. He spent a lot of time reading his bible and really studying it and understanding it. He was so knowledgable about the events that have happened and that are to come. He wanted all of his family and friends to believe in Jesus and be saved so he would be able to spend eternity with them. 

Three weeks ago he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It was not curable but doctors convinced him to start chemo to give him a longer life. After his first round of chemo, he ended up in the ICU, and he passed away in the hospital one week later.

 He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Christine Wester, his siblings – Alice Howard, Geraldine Hoffard, Delores Hensley, Glen Wester, and Dorothy Woods, his exwife Laura Wester, his son Ronnie Wester, and his great grandson Dylan Hughes. 

He is survived by his brother Perry Wester, his son John Wester Jr, his daughter Teresa Wadle and husband Greg, his daughter Deborah Gage, his daughter Amy Greene and husband Mark, his son John Wester and wife Renee, and his son Chris Kennedy and wife Amber. His grandchildren Natalie and husband Jose, Madison, Jennifer, Julie, Nick and wife Amber, Shandi, Joshua, Daniel, Victoria, Megan and husband Leighton, Grayson, Griffin, Grady, Makenzie, Caiden, Morgan, Callen, Chloe, and Alexander and 13 great grandchildren and half the state of Arkansas with cousins.