Katherine Ferrier Lester, of Huntsville passed away on April 8, 2021. Katherine had been a resident of Huntsville since 1958 when she moved to Huntsville with her husband, Dr. Richard Lester, Jr.
Katherine was born in Cleveland, Ohio and was one of six children. Her parents were Susan Hughmanic Ferrier and Norman Kenneth Ferrier. As a toddler, she was introduced to the classics through her father’s readings. Her mother, a wonderful storyteller, influenced her to imagine, explore and dream. As a teen, Katherine acted in school plays, played clarinet in the orchestra and band, and took art classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Katherine received her Registered Nursing degree from the M.B. Johnson School of Nursing and worked as a pediatric nurse in Ohio where she was recognized by the Governor of Ohio for Humanitarian Lifesaving Efforts. In 1954 she moved to Los Angeles, California and began working as a pediatric nurse at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. It was there that she met and married the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Lester in 1955.
During the mid-50’s, while Dick served the U.S. Navy in the Navy’s Medical Corps, they lived in San Francisco, the Philippine Islands, and Boston. Katherine and Dick settled in Huntsville in 1958 and were married for 65 years before he passed away on January 1, 2020.
Katherine played a pivotal role in the establishment, development, and growth of the arts in Huntsville from the early 60’s to the present. She was a founding member of such arts organizations as Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theatre, the Community Ballet Association, the Arts Council, and the Huntsville Literary Association.
Her contributions of leadership, insight, and understanding of the arts made her a much sought-after board member for many organizations. Her board leadership included serving as a member of the Board of Directors and President of the Board of Directors of Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theatre. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors and President of the Huntsville Arts Council Board of Directors, and as a member of the Board of Directors of Community Ballet Association.
In addition to her leadership board service, she was also a director, teacher, actor, playwright, storyteller, fundraiser, visual artist, and set designer. Katherine developed fundraisers, directed productions, and taught classes for many arts organizations in Huntsville.
As a nurse and mother, as well as an artist, and educator, Katherine devoted much of her life to helping children. Katherine directed eighteen plays for Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theatre including one that she wrote and several that she adapted. She worked in some capacity on over 40 productions for Fantasy Playhouse. She also worked on over 35 productions for Huntsville Community Ballet, and many with Huntsville Little Theatre.
Katherine encouraged and supported an untold number of visual artists, musicians, actors, dancers, and writers. She believed in and fought for the importance of the arts as a central component in the life of the community. Along with her colleagues, she initiated and developed a public art program in Huntsville, starting with Geode, a large public art sculpture originally located in Big Spring Park.
She worked on many programs and projects in arts education. She helped to develop and establish community arts festivals such as Arts in the Park and the Black Arts Festival, and led many city-wide opportunities to build community through the arts.
She served as an advisor during the development and establishment of Panoply Arts Festival. She designed the arts programing for Panoply, serving as the Arts Programming Chair for the first two festivals and Co-Chair of Panoply in 1985.
She received the Virginia H. Simms Award for her arts development and leadership in 2000. She also received awards of recognition for her work with the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Huntsville Art League (HAL), the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild, Huntsville Youth Orchestra, Huntsville Community Chorus, Botanical Gardens, the Huntsville Madison County Public Library,
In 2015, in recognition of the enormous commitment that she and Dick had made to the Community Ballet Association, they were honored with the establishment of the “Katherine and Richard Lester Emerging Arts Contribution Award” to support emerging artists and young volunteers.
Katherine’s husband of 65 years, Dr. Richard Lester, Jr. preceded her in death. She is survived by her sister, Patricia Ferrier Kiley. She is also survived by their four children, Susan Lester of Birmingham, Richard Lester III and wife, Lori, of Huntsville, Dr. Patricia Lester and husband, Dr. David Trend, of Los Angeles, CA, and Laura Lester and husband, Dennis Madsen, of Huntsville; five grandchildren, Christine Lester Harpole, Katherine Lester Mooty, Rachel Lester-Trend, Jacob Lester-Trend, Adlai Lester-Madsen; and four great-grandchildren, Jack Harpole, Lillie Harpole, Styles Mooty and Miller Mooty.
The family would like to say a special thanks to Mr. Keith Nance and Ms. Marie Willie for their love and support for both our mother and father.
A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, April 24th at the Valley United Methodist Church with a graveside service to follow at 12:30 at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater, the Community Ballet Association of Huntsville, or the Valley United Methodist Church
