IRVING P. JESTER, 1345 Tanglevine Drive, Rockwall, Texas, died Monday, November 24th, at Lakepointe Medical Center in Rowlett, TX. Mr. Jester was born to the late Frank H. and Ruth M. (Jackson) Jester on July 17, 1938 in New Britain, Connecticut, and moved to the Berkshires as a boy. A longtime resident of Lanesborough, Pittsfield, and Dalton, he graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1958. Soon thereafter, he bought the Town Grocery store in Lanesborough, now the site of Ye Old Forge. While operating the grocery store, he came to know Alice M. Gough, who improbably ran out of butter at least once a day. He and his favorite customer married on September 19, 1959. Mr. Jester then went to work for the Prudential Life Insurance Company, where he quickly worked his way up to sales manager. In 1974, he started an independent agency, Pierce-Hill Insurance, located on Elm Street in Pittsfield, which he ran with his son Mark until his retirement in 2005.
The same year, Irving and Alice left the Berkshires to proudly call Texas home. Upon his arrival, he started a successful online store, "Pennington's Home Goods."
Irv's dry sense of humor and talent for tall tales left an impression on all who knew him. Among his favorite things he enjoyed with his family were spaghetti dinners, his wife's Yorkshire pudding, camping on Greylock, summering in Maine, and Willie Nelson. He was a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys. Anyone visiting Cowboy Stadium should be sure to look for his paving stone engraved with his favorite annual prediction, "This year it's going to be Miami and Dallas in the Superbowl!" He also loved dogs, but none more than his faithful Scottie, Oliver, whose ashes will be interred with him. Like his father and uncle, Irv had a passion for cars. While he enjoyed many fine German examples, he was especially fond of classic Buicks of the 30's and 40's. The 1941 Buick Special convertible he owned as young man was his all-time favorite. You never forget the one that got away . . .
Irving and Alice were married for over 55 years, for which, Irv would often joke, "Alice should receive a medal." When they married, everybody gave them six months, but together they exemplified a love, devotion, and humor whose legacy will endure in the hearts of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his beloved Alice, Irving is survived by his five children: Mark Jester, and his wife Christine of Pittsfield, Kevin Jester, and his fiancée Lisa Fiorini-Puskey of Pittsfield, Bryan Jester and Karen Huxtable-Jester of Rowlett, TX, Dianne Jester (Wieland) of Northampton, MA, and Michelle Jester of Rennes, France. Uncle Irv was brother to Betty Gene Bridgham of Lenox, and Wanda Robinson of Lanesborough, and leaves five nieces and nephews. Irving is sorely missed by his eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, all of whom he taught to share his enthusiastic love of ice cream. Lastly, he is also survived by his two terriers.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services for Irving P. Jester who died November 24, 2014 will be held Thursday at 11:00 AM at the DERY FUNERAL HOME in Pittsfield conducted by the Rev. Sigmund Sadzinski. Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Pittsfield. Relatives and friends may call at the Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, MA on Wednesday, from 4 - 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Irv's memory may be made to the American Heart Association in care of the funeral home.

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