Calvin Arthur Kester

Cal was born on March 30, 1951, in Hominy, Ok to the loving parents of Ulus Brewer Kester & Ida Mabel (Harmon) Kester. He grew up on the family farm west of Cleveland. He attended the Cleveland schools and graduated in 1969. He participated in Track and Tiger's Tale. Cal was blessed with 3 children and on December 31, 1993, he married his soul mate, Valerie Ann Hickerson Horine and was excited to help raise her two children. He worked for 4 years at B&B Freight Lines in Tulsa. On November 10, 1973, he began his law enforcement career at the Cleveland Police Department and served for 21 ½ years, with end of watch in April 1995 as Asst. Chief. He was also the department's first K-9 officer and served with his partner, Benny. During this time, he also worked 16 years part time for Edwin, Lucille, and Robert at Annett & Annett Furniture and Appliances.

After retiring from the police Department, he began another career in 1996 as a state jail inspector/investigator for the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Cal retired from the Health Dept. in 2010. Unable to keep still, he worked for a couple of years at Les's Shamrock Station and then began working with The Spess Companies in August of 2012 alongside one of his good friends, Charlie Dell. He worked there until April 3, 2019.

On June 5th, 2019, he began working alongside his son at Elliott Electric. He worked there for almost 2 years when it was discovered cancer had returned. He had to medically retire because of Chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy treatments. He was able to win the fight again!!

Cal enjoyed life and never regretted his careers. His only disappointment during his careers was never being able to achieve the Police Chief position to be able to prove to the citizens of his capabilities. He often wondered if he ever truly made a difference in law enforcement. That question was answered after his retirement when he ran into a young man in a convenience store. The guy pulled out his wallet and showed Cal the picture of his family to him and told Cal that because of him that he had this family.

Cal loved his family and friends. He would do anything in his power for a friend or family because as he said, when my friends or family hurt, I hurt. If you wronged his friends or family, then you wronged him. He may forgive you for a wrong but would never forget it.

He loved music and singing. The shower always was the best place for the acoustics and hopefully no audience.

Cal was a fighter as was evident in 2003 when he was diagnosed with Stage 2 Cancer. With the help from God, family, and friends, and strong determination, he beat it.

His favorite quotes were "Admit nothing, deny everything, and demand proof.", "Adjust, adapt, and overcome.", and You're killing me Smalls!!

He loved to drive Valerie crazy by taking nursery rhymes and combining them together to make no sense at all. Also to hum a popular tune that would stick in her mind before bedtime.

He loved spending time with Valerie just lounging, or at a casino, tormenting his grand kids, social networking, or road tripping with his best friends Jim and Cathy Alburty. Cal actually could have a temper, but Valerie had a way to cause him to chill. He also could have an argument with Valerie even though it was his fault and could turn the tables to make her think it was her fault. Valerie said she had met her match with Cal.

Cal was proceeded in death by his parents, grandparents, stepfather, WJ Wild, his oldest brother Jim and sister-in-law, Gloria, all of his uncles, all of his aunts except one, and his K-9 partner Benny. He is survived by his Wife Valerie, son Brandon Kester, daughters Mandy and husband Eric Boatman, April and husband Joe Brown, daughter Chasidy Molster and Danny, and son Chad Horine and Amber along with 11 grandchildren, Darren Dell, Lauren Kay, Sydney and husband Marshall Willis & Katlyn Molster, Brooklyn, Shane, and Keegan Brown, Ryley Kester, Cody Boatman, Brittany Kerns, and Casey Robinson, Great grandchildren Luke and Theo Robinson, Baylor, Bryar and Coy Kerns, Kayson Kay, Scottie June Dell. Brother Mark Kester and wife Rose of Cleveland and BFF's Jim and Cathy Alburty.

Family has requested in lieu of flowers that contrubutions be made in honor of Cal to the Cleveland Area Pound Pals.