Morris H. Hester, 72, of Winona Lake, Ind., died at 10 a.m. Monday, July 14, 2014, at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, Ind.

He was born May 8, 1942, in Kearney, Neb., to Max and Chelys (Mattley) Hester. On June 5, 1964, he married Pamela Francis in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal, Lincoln, Neb.

He was a 1961 graduate of Lincoln Northeast High School in Lincoln, Neb. He attended the University of Nebraska, Kearney, and graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1966.

He retired from the American Red Cross in 2007. He was a member of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Warsaw. He was a member of Pierceton Masonic Lodge #377, the Scottish Rite and Mizpah Shrine. He was also a member of the Mizpah Shrine Horse Patrol. 

In 1994, he retired from the Winona Lake Volunteer Fire Department after 11 years. He enjoyed being a part of the line crew for Warsaw Community High School Football. He was also a track official for IHSAA, NCAA and USA Track and Field. He officiated at the USA-Russia Track Meet and the Pan Am Games.

Morris is survived by his wife: Pamela; his daughter: Jill (Kevin) O’Sullivan, Fort Wayne, Ind.; two sons: Jim (Joanne) Hester, Westfield, Ind.; and Jeff Hester, Scottsburg, Ind.; seven grandchildren; and three sisters: Cindy (Chuck) Squier, Ericson, Neb.; Mimi Ernst, Columbus, Neb.; and Jan (Gary) Giovino, Longmont, Colo.

Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 18, followed by the Masonic Rite, at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Warsaw. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 19, in the church with The Reverend Corinne Hodges as the Celebrant.

Memorials may be made to St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 424 W. Market St., Warsaw, IN 46580; or Shriner’s Children’s Hospital Fund (Chicago Hospital) 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607.

Services are entrusted to McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw. To send condolences or sign a guestbook go to the McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapels website.