Cartmell "Cartie" Lester, 82, husband of the late Sue Payne Lester, died Monday, March 16, 2015 at the University of Louisville Hospital.

Born January 5, 1933 in Maysville, Kentucky and moved to Fleming County at age 3, Cartie was a son of the late Nick & Serepta Ewing Smoot Lester, was a U.S. Army veteran serving two years in the 101st Airborne, a retired supervisor at Jockey International, former co-owner of Lester's Family Stores in Carlisle, Owingsville and Flemingsburg, a former Carlisle City Councilman, an Honorable Kentucky Colonel and was a member and Deacon of the Carlisle Christian Church. Very active in his community, he was a member of the Nicholas Co. Lions Club, Daugherty Lodge #65 F.&A.M., the Bluegrass Area Development District, the Carlisle-Nicholas County Industrial Development Authority and American Legion Post 17. Cartmell also worked, in Nicholas County, for the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, who was a good friend.

Surviving are 2 daughters: Pam (Terry) Earehart, of Tollesboro, and Debbie (Barry) Ruark, of Carlisle; 5 grandchildren: Christy Dickerson, Emilee Boyle, Jeff Hay, James Hay and Rebecca Collier; 9 great-grandchildren: Brandon Wilson, Abby, Anna & Ava Boyle, Madeline & Emma Dickerson, and Simon, William & Oliver Hay; and a great-great granddaughter, Lila Wilson.

Also preceding him in death were his son, Jeff Lester, who passed away following a car accident as a teenager, his 2 brothers, George & Charlie Lester, and a sister, Minerva McCord.

Services will be 1:00 P.M. Friday at the Carlisle Christian Church by Rev. Steve Smith. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Mt. Tabor Cemetery.

Visitation will be after 6:00 P.M. Thursday at the church.

Memorial contributions suggested to the Jeff Lester Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Debbie Ruark, 107 Catherine Street, Carlisle, Kentucky 40311.