Feb. 9, 1956-Sept. 16, 2004
Raymond Don Hester, always known as Don to his friends and his life partner and husband, Jeffrey Georlett, was born in Oak Park, Ill., Feb. 9, 1956. Don passed away in Chicago Sept. 16, 2004, after complications following a July cancer surgery.
Don was the son of Raymond E. Hester (d. 1993) and Joann (Loucks) Owens (d. 1997). After graduating from Lyons Township High School, LaGrange, in 1974, Don went into the U.S. Army, training at Fort Hood, Texas, and honorably and proudly served his country for eight years in Wiesbaden, West Germany, and later in the Reserves. As a result of his Army experience, Don was trained to be a surgical technician, and also attended college, where he honed his talents in photography, for which he had a particular eye and appreciation.
After leaving the Army, Don lived in Countryside, Ill., where he cared for his father during his final years. Upon the death of his father in 1993, he lived in Southern Illinois with his sister, Tammy. Don moved back to the Chicago area in 1994. There he made many friends and pro-actively widened his life perspective through participating in therapy, group activities, and by developing a positive outlook through continually pursuing the idea that happiness is a choice.
On Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, Don got the chance to put all of his learning, capacity for love, and living life to its fullest practice, when he met and pursued his life partner and future husband, Jeffrey Georlett at a Showtune afternoon at Sidetrack. It was truly love at first site for both. They fell passionately in love, remained so, and lived together in an apartment in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. During these happy last years of his life, Don enjoyed six annual Springtime trips to Great Britain with Jeffrey, where they traveled the the country, from London to the Isle of Skye in the Hebrides. Don was also blessed to share the love of their two cats, Lucy, and the absolute light of his life and heart, Magda, also known as 'The Little Black Fatty Catty,' whom Jeffrey and Don raised from her kitten-hood.
In June 2004, after a beautiful, fulfilling, and love-filled final vacation to Great Britain, Don began a series of tests to discover the cause of a mass in his abdomen. Following surgery on July 28, the mass was discovered to be cancerous, and the surgery involved the removal of Don's kidney, as well as the restructuring of his bowel and spleen. Don fought bravely in his final months, supported every step of the way by his life partner, who put his work temporarily on hold to nurse and care for him. Neither Don nor Jeffrey ever gave up hope that Don would recover or that they would be able to return home and share more years of life and love together. Jeffrey finds solace and the potential for healing in the fact that for the six years of their relationship, and especially in his last few months, Don always knew, and spoke of the fact that he was loved, passionately and completely every single day. Don and Jeffrey were married, surrounded by friends, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, on Sept. 2, 2004. Don's sense of humor, joy for life, and enthusiastic, childlike appreciation of everything that was true and meaningful will be greatly missed by all who knew and had the privilege to love him. Don was never afraid to love, and as a result was loved by many.
Don is survived by his loving life partner and husband, Jeffrey Georlett, who will strive to continually honor Don by telling Don's story, modeling his life to Don's example of selflessness, and opening his mind and wounded heart to new experiences, people, and life possibilities. Don is also survived by their two cats, his sisters, Jackie, Tammy, Terry, and Leslie, and also by his 'adopted parents,' Richard and Joycelyn Degener of Holland, Ohio (the parents of Jeffrey Georlett). He is deeply missed by his colleagues and friends at Same Day Surgery, where he worked.
A beautiful memorial service was held on Monday, Sept. 20, at All Saints Episcopal Church, where Don's life was celebrated by many friends. He was remembered for the joy and meaningful significance of his life, and his life was also celebrated by oral and musical tribute through the works of Shakespeare, Wordsworth, William Blake, and the contributions of Edwin Sanders, and Don's friend, Ellen Rosner. Don was eulogized by his life partner/ husband, Jeffrey. Testimonials and other inspiring examples of Don's selflessness were shared by his many friends. Don was buried, according to his wishes, next to his father, in Hurst, Ill., Sept. 22.
All memorial contributions can be sent in Don's memory to The Night Ministry, 4711 N. Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, 60640. Donations can also be made to The Night Ministry online, through PayPal.
