Hester Renick

Hester Renick, of Borger, died September 29, 2022, after a multi-year battle with cancer. Hester was 92 years old. Hester was born in Burkburnett, Texas on 12 November 1929 to Lee Elonzo Fowler and Bertha Jeweldean (Ferguson) Fowler. Her father was an employee of Gulf Oil Company in the Burkburnett oil ­field. In 1931, Lee was transferred to work on Gulf’s C. L. Dial lease, just north of the Canadian River in Hutchinson County. The Dial lease was the site of the discovery of oil and the ­first oil well in the county. As a child, Hester, her parents and 5 siblings, lived in the oil camp on the Dial lease for many years until the camp was closed and the family moved to Stinnett. She often said her days living on “the Dial” were the best in her life. No paved roads, no cars to speak of, no television, no phones for many years, and it was a long way to town. She often told us that her days on the Dial were the best days of her life. She attended the nearby Plemons School as a child and later transferred to Phillips High School where she graduated in 1947. Hester married Charles Thomas Renick, also of Borger on the 12th of January, 1953. They had 3 children, Clay, Kathryn and Bradley. In her younger years, she worked as a retail clerk for several fabric and clothing stores owned by a Borger family. Later, she was the bookkeeper for a local doctor’s office. She was a skilled seamstress and made much of her own clothing and most of her daughter’s clothing too. She made Christmas tablecloths, tree skirts, calendars, ornaments, and decorations which were adorned with sequins and baubles and ­stitch work. Her hand-crafted works are the treasured possessions of her children, grandchildren and in the years to come, her great grandchildren. She was loved greatly by her family and anyone who met her. She was an excellent cook! She could prepare meals for 5, 20 or 40, before you could blink an eye! No one who ever sat at Hester’s table went home hungry or empty-handed. She always made enough food that everyone took some with them when they went home. She made the world’s-­best fried chicken and all those who have sat at her table would agree - there was none better! She was a culinary artist who never went easy on the salt, butter - or the love! Her sweet tea was the sweetest you ever tasted - there was none sweeter! Hester loved to play cards and was adept at embarrassing her family members with her skills. Everybody who played cards with her always wanted her as their partner because she won almost all the time! “Mimi,” as she was known by her grandchildren, was the card partner to you wanted to have. She seemed to have an infallible memory regarding who had played what card. She would beat you soundly, then smile sweetly and ask if you wanted to “play another hand!” After she thrashed you repeatedly for an entire evening, she would usually tell you, with a sparkle in her eye, that she looked forward to “our” next game. Many a sucker has fallen victim to her devious card playing skills! She’d smile demurely and then show you the same mercy Santa Anna showed the Texans at the Alamo! Her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren were her greatest joy! Warren, Lesley and Ryan, have given her Jackson, Reagan, Hudson and Kate. She often lavished them with gifts she couldn’t afford as well as more attention than any of them ever received from their parents - as well as that she gave her own children when they were young! Hester’s daughter Kathryn, lost a valiant battle with cancer on the 27th of December 2021. Hester is survived by her oldest son Clay and his wife Lisa of Borger, Clay’s children, Warren and his wife Elizabeth and their children Jackson and Reagan of Highland Village, Texas. Lesley Hayward and her husband Brian and their child Hudson of Durham, North Carolina. Brad, her youngest son and his wife Susan of Borger, and their son Ryan and his wife Saylee and their daughter Kate of Spearman. Hester/Mom/Mimi will be missed, but never forgotten. The last member of her generation, America’s greatest generation, is no longer with us, but will always be with us in our memories. She wished to be cremated and a memorial service will be held in her honor at a later date for family members only. Her remains will be interred in her husband’ Charles’ grave, at Highland Park Cemetery in Borger, where they will be together for eternity.