Wayne Fike Hester, 92, of Tuscumbia, AL, passed away on Friday, December 26, 2025. Visitation will be at Colbert Memorial Chapel on Monday, December 29, 2025 from 12:30 to 2 with a service to follow at 2. Greg Beasley will be officiating the service. Burial will be in Colbert Memorial Gardens.
Wayne was a member of Valley Grove Baptist Church for many years. He retired from Ford Motor Sheffield Casting Plant and went on to operate an excavating business digging ponds, clearing land, and building roads. Wayne’s connection to the Purple Martin Club was one of the defining aspects of his life. He was known for his use of gourds, which he crafted and hung for the Martins, earning him the nickname “The Gourd Man.”
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Aggie Hester; brother, Bernard Hester.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Faye Hester; son Scott Wayne Hester (Kathy); daughter, Dee Anne Boner (Lloyd); brother, Alton Hester (Peggy); grandchildren, Michael Hester (Libby), Christopher Boner (Megan), Hannah Boner; great-grandchildren, Joshua Hester, Kimmie Hester
Pallbearers will be David Isbell, Ray Counts, Keith Hester, Mike Hester, Daryl Hester, Christopher Boner.
Honorary Pallbearers will be the members of Valley Grove Men’s Baptist Sunday School.
