Dolores Whitmire (Lester) Hooks

Rebecca Dolores Hooks was born on June 3, 1935. She passed away on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Silsbee Oaks Nursing Home.

Dolores was born to Emery and Emma “Verline” Lester. She was the oldest of six children, George Emory Lester (Vedna), Sallie Marie Bellamy (L.D.), Gloria “Kathy” Tarter, Ida Glenelle Lester, and Karen Louise Lester (Ed). She resided in Buna, Texas for the majority of her life surrounded by a large loving family of many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She often spoke of walking down the road to the old church with her grandmother, Sarah Francis Dunn. She grew up in a time of forestry and farming. She attended Buna High School, where she graduated as Salutatorian of her class.

Dolores married the first love of her life, Eston “Bitts” Whitmire in 1961. They were married until Bitts died in February 1988. She was a stay at home mom. They both enjoyed spending time together and laughing when Bitts was not working at Bethlehem Steel. In 1993, she married the second love of her life, Lewis Hooks. They would spend their years going dancing, driving to Warren to eat BBQ, camping, and trying to produce the most vegetables in SouthEast Texas in their garden. They always had grandchildren or great-grandchildren running around their home and yard until Lewis passed in November 2021. She made some of the best fried fish and home cooked foods. Dolores loved all her children and always referred to them as ‘her boys’ and ‘her girls.’ There was not often that she met a stranger. She made many friends over the years. In recent times, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, which did not stop her from making new friends and always ensuring everyone felt loved and beautiful. Those who spent time with her in recent years called her outpouring of love, “Positive Dolores Affirmations.”

Dolores is preceded in death by her first husband Eston and her second husband Lewis along with her parents and siblings, George, Kathy, Ida, and Karen. In 2011, she lost her granddaughter, Amber Hawthorne.

She is survived by her sister, Sallie Bellamy of Buna, and daughters Melissa & Scott Stephenson of Houma, LA, Donna & Gene Hawthorne of Buna, TX, Darla & Vance Hill of Buna, TX, and sons Darrin Whitmire of Buna, TX, and Glenn & Kim Whitmire of Mt. Enterprise, TX. Grandchildren include Jennifer Bayer (Justin), Brian Stephenson, Cassie Boyd (Geoffrey), Kellie Hawthorne, Jason Hawthorne (Kasey), Joshua Hawthorne, Marissa Hill, Alyssa Hill, Brittany Whitmire, and Caleb Whitmire. Great-grandchildren include Whitley Bayer, Amelia Bayer, Austin Stafford, Aidric Willis, Marcus Boyd, Cade Davis, Harlin Wagstaff, Kai Ellis, Lilly Hawthorne, Briggs Hawthorne, and Natalie Dooley. She also is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

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