Zella Grace Kester was born Dec. 11, 1909, at Smallett, Mo., the daughter of N.V. “Bird” and Lilly (Turner) Kester. Funeral services were held in Winder, Ga., for former Ava resident Zella Atteberry Renegar.
Zella Grace Kester was born Dec. 11, 1909, at Smallett, Mo., the daughter of N.V. “Bird” and Lilly (Turner) Kester. She graduated from Ava High School in 1927 and was a member of the Ava Methodist Church and a charter member of Ava Chapter #47 Order of Eastern Star. She taught at Hunter School.
After surviving the polio epidemic of 1949, she completed her college education at SMS and spent her teaching career in the Springfield public schools system, teaching many years at Pepperdine.
She was married to Oral Atteberry in 1936 and to this union one daughter, Patricia Anne Atteberry, was born. Mr. Atteberry preceded her in death in 1946 and she was later married to Frank Isbell, then Lester Renegar. After her retirement she and Mr. Renegar moved to his childhood home in Birch Tree, Mo., where she lived until his death. She then made her home with her daughter in Winder, Ga., where she died Jan. 16, 2005.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one stepson, Edward Atteberry, one step-granddaughter, Catherine Atteberry, her two brothers and sisters-in-law, Rudy and Thelma Kester and Virgil and Charlene Kester.
She is survived by her daughter, Anne and Jim Rutledge and their daughter, Kellie Anne and Clay Ouzts and their children, Brooks, Forbes, Addison and Graham, of Winder, Ga.; a stepson, John F. and Modeane Atteberry, of Branson, their daughter Cindy Monaghan and her daughters, Jessica and Sarah, of Tulsa, Okla.; nephews and a niece, Gary Kester and Marilyn, and Rod Alms, of Ava.
Services were conducted Jan. 18, by Smith Funeral Home with burial in Barrow Memorial Garden, in Winder, Ga.
