John Maxwell Hestir
Dr. John Maxwell Hestir, age 84, died March 9, 2012. He was born July 26, 1927, at Des Arc, to John and Vesta Hestir, who precede him in death. John left high school after the 11th grade to enlist in the Navy where he served as a gunner's mate on a mine sweeper in the Pacific until the end of World War II. After the service he graduated from Central High School where he played football on the 1946 Central High National Championship team. He also attended Little Rock Junior College and played in the Junior Rose Bowl. He graduated from University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and graduated in 1955 from the University of Arkansas Medical School. In 1956 he moved to DeWitt and set up his medical practice where he practiced until 2007. Dr. Hestir served as president of DeWitt Chamber of Commerce, president of Cadeuses Club, president of State Medical Society, was a member of DeWitt School Board for 12 years, member of First Baptist Church, and was instrumental in acquiring DeWitt City Hospital.
Dr. Hestir is survived by his wife, Billie Rochell Hestir; three sons and their wives, Ron and JoAnn Hestir, Randy and Susan Hestir, Rusty and Carla Hestir, all of DeWitt; six grandchildren, Max Hestir, Ronni Hearn, Holt Hestir, Randi Hestir, Haven Hestir and Hara Hestir and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday at Essex Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 12, 2012, First Baptist Church, with Bro. Donald Lee Ruffin officiating. Burial will be in Cedarcrest Memorial Gardens by Essex Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to: A Servant's Heart, P.O. Box 605, DeWitt, Ark., 72042, or Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, Ark. 72203.
Published March 11, 2012