|
Roa Maxey Hester, son of Elbert and Daisy (Whitlock) Hester was born January
7, 1925 in Alma, Arkansa. In 1943 Maxey left Alma High School to enlist in the United States Navy. He served on
the U.S.S. Alhena (AKA-9) Cargo Ship until he was honorably discharged in 1946.
On December 24,1947, Maxey was united in marriage to Billie Garrett in Fort Smith,
Arkansas. To this union six children were born, Daniel, Joyce, Nancy, Doris, David and Harold. They moved to the
Des Moines area where Maxey worked as a finish carpenter for a few years.
He loved to build and fly model airplanes. In 1967, Maxey became the plant
manager for Sig Manufacturing Co. Inc. He always was a "hands on" manager and is very much involved in the companys'
operations.
On October 6, 1978 Billie passed away. Maxey married Hazel Sigafoose
on December 10, 1981 in Montezuma. Together they continued to run Sig Manufacturing until 1999 when they sold the business
and retired.
Maxey was an active air show pilot in the full scale circuit and, along
with his wife, Hazel, flew the Sig "air force" of some seven aircraft. These include three famous Spacewalkers.
Maxey enjoyed flying, building model airplanes, fishing and playing on his computer. He wason the United States radio
control model airplane team for three different years and flew in Germany, France and England. Maxey served as a contest
director both locally and nationally. He was a charter member and first president of the Des Moines Model Aires
RC Club and a charter member of NMPRA. He was a lifelong member of the Academy of Model areonautics (AMA) and
the Experimental Aircraft Association. He was also inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame.
Maxey passed away Tuesday evening, March 10, 2009, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa
City at the age of 84 years, 1 month and 16 days. His memory is honored by his wife, Hazel of Montezuma; three daughters,
Joyce Hester of Montezuma, Nancy (Tony) Lammers of Brooklyn and Doris (Mike) Gretz of Montezuma; his sister, LaMatha
Sheets of North Little Rocj, Arkansas, eleven grandchildren, Bryan Hester, Penny Hester, Clayton Hester, Jennifer (Junior)
Norris, Elizabeth (Brad) Mayer, Michael Lammers, Darlene (Wesley) Burnham, David (Angie) gretz, Nicholas Hester, Lauren Hester
and Austen Hester and ten great-grandchildren.
Maxey was preceded in death by his parents, Elbert and Daisy Hester; his
wife, Billie; three sons, Daniel Hester, David Hester, and Harold Hester; his brother, Donald Ray Hester and a granddaughter,
Esther Gretz.
|
