Esther Coward Hooten

Oriental - Esther Coward Hooten, born on May 20, 1941, passed away on March 24, 2016 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. She is pre-deceased by her husband of 52 years, John Robert “JR” Hooten, her father, John Holliday Coward, and her mother, Esther Hill Coward.

Esther was born in Pitt County and raised in Grifton, NC. She graduated from Grifton High School where she was a cheerleader, a member of the girls’ basketball team, and received the “ Most Athletic “ award her senior year. Esther graduated from the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Home Economics and received her teaching certification. She received a Masters degree in Elementary Education and a Masters degree in Home Economics, both from East Carolina University.

Esther was a fourth grade teacher in the Kinston/Lenoir County school system for 12 years. She also co-owned a small business called “A Stitchin’ Time” for several years. She was active in the Gordon Street Christian Church Choir, served on the board of the Kinston Recreation Department, and volunteered with the Meals on Wheels program. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother for all three sons and played an integral role in helping all of them achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Esther was a Master Gardener and a Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow. Esther was known for her endless energy and enthusiasm in supporting her three sons’ sporting activities from swimming to football. She served and blessed others by sharing her gifts of teaching, cooking, sewing, and gardening.

As JR approached retirement, he and Esther moved to Oriental fulltime where Esther loved to read, work in the garden, and take boat rides to Beaufort. She hosted dinner parties and Thanksgiving dinners and especially loved spending time with her three boys, their wives, and her six grandchildren. Esther was the most amazing wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, and friend. This classy and creative lady will be dearly missed and never forgotten.

Esther is survived by her three sons, John (Krista) of Gulf Breeze, FL, Mike (Bailey) of Winston-Salem, NC, and Robert (Nikki) of Ellicott City, MD, and six grandchildren: Kennedy, Jake, Hays, Jack, Charlie, and Kate. She is also survived by her sister, Julia Coward Speight, of New Bern.

A memorial service will be held at the Gordon Street Christian Church in Kinston on Friday, April 8, 2016 at 2pm with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org-4600 Park Rd. Suite 3250 Charlotte, NC 28209, contact: Darlene), The Garden Club of North Carolina (“scholarships” PO Box 33520 Raleigh, NC 27636 – www.gardenclubofnc.org) or to the charity of one’s choice.