Jenifred Ann "Jeni" Hester, passed away on Thursday, October 3, 2024, in Hereford, Texas. An informal gathering of family and friends to honor Jeni and a life well lived will be on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. at the Purple Cow Art Gallery, located at 417 N Main St., Hereford, Texas 79045.

Jeni was born on February 10, 1948, in Amarillo, Texas to JD and Winifred (Hoskins) Hester. She grew up in Texline on their family ranch with her two sisters, Rebecca and Karan. Together they learned many lessons in strength, resilience, humility, hard work, and gratefulness as they contributed to work on the ranch, helping their parents take care of their land, cattle, and home.  Jeni graduated from Texline High School and then pursued her nursing career goals at the Texas Woman's University and Southwest Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, earning her Masters. Jeni worked as a Registered Nurse and later as a Nurse Practitioner at the Clinic Baptista in Barranquilla, Colombia. Jeni worked 38 years as a medical missionary with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. During her ministry she was instrumental in church planting, organizing disaster relief, and working with internal refugees in South America as a community health provider. She taught other healthcare providers in this area how to assess the children and start them on a nutrition plan, improving their health and survival by 80%, all while also sharing the love of Christ with them through a bible study during treatment. When Jeni was not busy serving and helping others, she enjoyed doing counted cross stitch, knitting, crocheting, and reading.

Those left to cherish her memories are her two sisters, Rebecca Hester Walls and husband Jerry O of Hereford, Texas, and Karan Hester Scott and husband Harry K of Dallas, Texas; niece, Stephanie René McCann and husband Russell of San Angelo, Texas; nephew, Jerremy O. Walls and wife Angela of Boise City, Oklahoma; great nieces Kaley LeGrande Walls and Beth Tucker McCann, great nephew Benjamin Wade McCann, and many cousins.

She is preceded in death by her parents JD and Winifred Hester and grandparents.

Because Jeni helped with disaster relief it is suggested that memorials be sent to Samaritan's Purse in her name, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements and Cremation Services have been entrusted to Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home.