Lester Odell Headrick, Jr. passed away in Midland, Texas January 22, 2019. Lester was born December 18, 1938 in Gainesville, Texas to Lester Odell Headrick Sr. and Fannie Mae Headrick.Lester graduated from Callisburg High School in Gainesville, Texas in 1957. He lettered in football, baseball and track. He loved sports and was an avid New York Yankee fan.Lester served in the United States Army from 1961 to 1964. He loved his country and was stationed in Korea for 17 months. Also stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Polk, La. And Fort Hood, Texas. Lester loved to tell about his encounters with enlisted men and officers. His rank was Sergeant. Lester started in the grocery business for Furrs Supermarkets in Albuquerque, NM in 1957. He started as a Produce Clerk and went from this to Produce Manager, Store Manager, Produce Head Buyer and Warehouse Manager, Grocery Supervisor and District Manager of Permian Basin. In 1987 he was promoted to Retail Operations Manager. In 1990 he was Vice President and Divisions Manager of Furrs Supermarkets.After retirement from Furrs he went to work with Food Basket Supermarkets in San Angelo, for 5 years, and then worked thirteen and a half years with his friend, Roger Lowe, Sr. and Roger Lowe, Jr. at Pay n Save Supermarkets in Littlefield, Texas, as Produce Director. His fifty-six years in the grocery store business was spent helping people of all phases in life to apply themselves to be good at retail sales in the grocery business. He said he wanted to be remembered as an honest, hardworking, and fair as well as no nonsense leader and friend. Lester said every store manager he worked with, as well as produce managers, he thought of as his children.Lester is preceded in death by his mother and father; sister, Nora Mae of Denton, Texas; brother, Jerry Headrick of Gainesville, Texas; nephew, Andrew Headrick; sisters, Helen Sizemore, Mary Simmons, Sue Wiley and Dorothy Jean Headrick.Lester is survived by his beautiful, sweet wife, Carole of 54 years. She stood by him and showed him through example of getting along with whatever you have and loving him in any situation. He loved her sweet smile and said it calmed him in many storms. And he called her his “Lil Punkin”. Lester also is survived by one sister, Joan Monahan of Flint, Texas; brother in law, Lyndon Lee of Denton, Texas; sister in law, Rhonda Headrick; and many precious nieces and nephews.Lester leaves behind one son Vincent Lee Messimer and a precious granddaughter, Alexandra, a Yale Graduate and 4 year basketball player. Lester’s nickname was “Sonny”.Lester was a member of First Baptist Church Midland. He was a member of the John Sunday School Department. He loved all of them as family. He often said, “Some day we will be absent from this earth and present in the arms of Jesus, no sickness, no sorrow, no pain, perfect bodies and this is the time we must sing.”Lester will be inurned at Oak Grove Cemetery in Gainesville, Texas. Private services will be at a later time.The family would like to thank all the wonderful people who took such good care of him – people from First Baptist Church and caretakers from Home Instead, and special friends.Please send memorials to First Baptist Church, Midland or to Gideons.Lester’s favorite scripture was Ex. 15:2, The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise Him, my father’s God and I will exalt Him.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com. ,
