Thursday, April 6, 2017 8:29 am

Horace "Sam" Sanford Hester Sr., age 75, of Forest City, passed away on Monday, March 27, 2017.

Born May 21, 1941 in Gaston County, he was a son of the late James Hester and Pearl Mae Arrowood Bailey.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-father, G.B. Bailey; step-mother, Elwona Hester; son, Kenneth David Hester; a granddaughter, Rena Jarvis; brother, Bobby Hester; and a sister, Geraldine Whitner.

Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Geraldine Hester; children, Ricky Hester and wife Lavonne, Charlene Hester Johnson and husband Doug, Eric Hester and wife Christy, Sammy Hester and wife Mim; step-children, Coleman Toney and wife Pam, Kay Toney and husband Alan, Fay Dobbins and husband Jeff; sister, Brenda Grubbs and husband Donnie, June Hester; brothers, Alan Hester and wife Faye, Tommy Hester and wife Sandra, Carl Hester and wife Sharon; and sister-in-law, Susan Hester. He is also survived by twenty-one grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted at Chase Baptist Church with Reverend Scott Butler officiating. Interment followed in the Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery

Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family.