Obituary The Gatton, Lockyer and Brisbane Valley STAR, December 29, 1999 Page 5
GLADYS Pearl Lester (Pearl or Pearly) was born on June 28, 1905, the fourth child of Ernest and Lucy Howe of Spencer Street, Gatton. She was predeceased by her three sisters Hilda (Mrs Hugh Pollock of Ma Ma Creek), Lily (Mrs Bob Higgins of Ma Ma Creek), Ivy Lowe of Redcliffe, and brothers Percy of Gatton and Joseph of Redcliffe. Pearl received her education at the Gatton State School which was situated where the swimming pool is now located and after finishing school she worked in the surgery of Harry Lovelock, Gatton's dentist. After her marriage to Samuel Reid Lester in 1927 she moved to his farm at Morton Vale where she resided for 55 years before moving to Gatton after the death of her husband. He predeceased her in 1977. Samuel and Pearl had three sons, the oldest Douglas Leonard passed away earlier this year, and Roland James and Geoffrey Colin still reside at Lake Clarendon and Morton Vale respectively. Pearl was blessed with 12 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Pearl was a foundation member of the Forest Hill branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association and when the Glenore Grove branch was formed she joined that organisation and was president for a period. After moving to Gatton, Pearl joined the Gatton branch and also was an active member of the Senior Citizens. Pearl spent the last years of her life at the Bundaleer Nursing Home in Ipswich where she passed away on December 6 at the age of 94 years. Her funeral service was held at the Uniting Church in Spencer Street, Gatton, on December 10, 1999, the same church where she was christened in 1905 and where she was married in 1927. - G.