Willis Dozier Lester

Funeral Services will be held at 11 am on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Willis Dozier Lester, Jr., 86, who passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at his residence. Reverend Duane Peterson, Associate Rector of Episcopal Church of the Ascension will conduct the funeral services. Burial will take place in Lester-Dozier Cemetery Inverness, MS on Sunday, May 17, 2015. Dozier, a resident of Duson, LA was the son of the late Willis Lester and the former Willye Crosby. Dozier was born in Greenville, MS on December 28, 1928 to parents Willis Dozier and Willye Burns Crosby Lester. He was raised on a cotton farm near Inverness, MS. He graduated from Inverness Academy and went on to receive a chemical engineering degree from Mississippi State University. He then joined the Air Force and obtained the rank of Captain while serving in Korea and the United States. While in the Air Force, he attended UCLA and studied meteorology. His formal studies were finished at Heidelberg University in Heidelberg, Germany. Dozier went to work for Schlumberger Well Services after returning to the states; filling many positions but primarily as a well log analyst. Dozier had a passion for raising bullfrogs and was known to many as the "frog man." Dozier began raising frogs in the spring of 1972 and gave up his small business in the fall of 2013. One of the highlights during his frog raising years was being chosen as the Grand Marshall of the Rayne Frog Festival in September of 2005. He supplied the Frog Festival with all the frogs they needed for many years. One of Mr. Lester's many accomplishments was the design and patent of the "frog feeder." He loved to tinker and this hobby allowed him to do just that. Willis Dozier Lester, Jr. is preceded in death by his parents Willis Dozier Lester and Willye Crosby Lester, brother William Crosby Lester, and first wife and mother of his children Imogene Hammack Lester. Dozier Lester is survived by his sister Anne Hudson (Sigmund) of Savannah, GA, sister-in-law Mollye Watkins Lester of Inverness, MS, son Willis Dozier Lester, III (Monet) of Lafayette, LA, daughter Ruth Lester Baker (Steve) of Shreveport, LA, step son Robert Thomas Wilkins (Mindy) of Vaughn, WA, step daughter Elizabeth Wilkins Beasley (Frank) of Clemmons, NC. He is also survived by his wife Virginia Beard Lester and her children John Fricke, Mark Fricke, Carolyn Spencer (Don), Marilyn Fricke, Barbara Sugg (Keith), Simone Beard and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews and step grandchildren. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home Bertrand Drive on Wednesday May 6, 2015, from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Visiting hours will continue on Thursday May 7, 2015 from 9:00 am until the time of service. Personal condolences may be sent to the Lester family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Willis Dozier Lester

December 28, 1928 - May 3, 2015