Lester Bird

Lester Lee Bird, age 68, of Coweta passed from this life on Sunday, June 29, 2008 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Lester was born on June 7, 1940 in Proctor, Oklahoma to Jesse and Sallie (Scott) Bird. He graduated from Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. He and Patricia Collins were united in marriage on September 14, 1987 in Miami, Oklahoma. Lester came to Coweta from Okmulgee in August 2007. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on January 31, 1961 and was honorably discharged on August 2, 1973. Lester worked in the maintenance department at Oklahoma Department of Transportation for 20 years until his retirement in 2002. His hobbies included reading, gardening, and fishing. Lester was a member of the American Legion in Salina, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Lodge, and he was a board member of the Haskell Alumni Association. Left behind to cherish his memories is his wife, Patricia, of Salina, Oklahoma; three brothers, Thomas Fishinghawk, Houston Byrd, and Robert Hogshooter, all of Stilwell, Oklahoma; three sisters, Sarah Bird Hirst, Rebecca Patton, and Susie Thompson, all of Stilwell, Oklahoma; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friend, Joyce Bear, of Coweta. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and one sister. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2008 at Wright Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Doyle Carroll and Rev. Ben Ewing officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at 2:00 p.m at Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Arrangements and services are under the direction of Wright Funeral Home in Coweta. Friends and family may view the obituary and send condolences to the family online at www.wrightfh.net. Honorary pallbearers were Ken Cox, Cecil Lowe, Melvin Manry, and Kenny Myers.