Emily Jean Lester James' Obituary
Emily Jean Lester James pass on to be with our Lord February 21, 2025, at the age of 102 years young. Jean was born in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas on November 12, 1922, the daughter of John Lester and Nona Rae Stout Lester of Gravette, Arkansas.
Jean graduated from Bentonville High School in 1940 and was awarded the Eastern Star Scholarship to attend nursing school in Pittsburg, Kansas. After nursing school, she attended Sweeney Welding School in Kansas City. where upon graduation she was employed by North American Aircraft in Kansas City. She helped with the WWII effort as "Ros
ie the Riveter," and helped build B25 Bombers and P51 Mustangs. Here is where she met Lyle Ralph James of Tyler, Minnesota. They went on to wed on June 19, 1943, and soon after he was deployed to England, where he spent 33 months as an airplane mechanic in the Army Air Corp.
Lyle and Jean had three children, Dawn Jean James Starnes, of Jasper, Indiana along with her husband Jerry Starnes, Susan Louise James Ross, of Rogers, Arkansas, and Chris Lyle James, of Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was predeceased by Lyle James, her parents, and her son Chris.
She had six grandchildren and was affectionately referred to as "Granny", of who are named Heather Dawn Martin, of St. Paul, Minnesota, Jamie Sue Ross Maclean of Atlanta, Georgia, her husband Doug Maclean, Miles G, James, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and his wife Courtney Lambeth James, Kristen Oliphant Pickett, of Fayetteville Arkansas, and her husband Mark Pickett, William Ross, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Lyle Phipps James, of Lexington, Kentucky.
She was also blessed with four great grandchildren, Paris James, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Ira James Pickett, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Lachlan Ross Maclean, attending Airforce Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Emma Francis Maclean of Atlanta, Georgia.
"Granny's" hobbies and passions were gardening, and horticulture, she loved to watch things grow. She had a great love for animals, Lyle once said that she enjoyed her beloved Chow Dog Beau more than him. She was constantly creating through sewing and was a very talented cook. One of her favorite passions was feeding loved ones, and entertaining friends, family, and neighbors. Her house was always full of good food, and amazing scents from them. Her children were forever bringing home friends and Granny would gladly feed them when they were hungry. She and Lyle loved to dance and were active Square Dancers and even traveled the country to attend events. They were extremely active in Shriners and would donate time by flying children to the Shriners hospitals.
Jean and Lyle were heavily involved in The Elks lodge, as well as the Moose lodge, and were die hard Razorback fans. They wintered in Florida and would spend weeks on the road Salmon fishing the Greatlakes, visiting the Pacific Northwest, Las Vegas, Reno, and Ruidoso.
There will be a private family service at a later date. If you would care to honor the memory of Emily Jean "Granny" Lester James. Please do so by planting a tree or flowers. It would make her very happy.
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