Jacqueline Hester

Jacqueline was born on October 6, 1951, in Reidsville, North Carolina, to the late Versa Arbon Carter and Kathleen Coleman Carter.

She moved to Santa Barbara in 1973 and later made her home in Carpinteria in 2000.

Jacqueline will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, generous heart, and deep love of the natural beauty of the California coast, mountains, and desert landscapes. She treasured time spent hiking and backpacking with her husband, Patrick, in the Santa Barbara and Ventura backcountry, and she enjoyed visiting the desert near Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree.

She carried that same love of exploration into her travels around the world, including reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

She found joy in running, biking, walking, and participating in local races, sprint triathlons, and the LA Marathon. She cherished time spent with friends and daily walks with her beloved Australian Shepherd, Sheba, at the Douglas Preserve, where she enjoyed the ocean air and open space with her joyful companion by her side.

Jacqueline also believed deeply in giving back to her community. After retiring from Raytheon and the Santa Barbara Research Center, she continued to share her time, warmth, and care with others as a docent at the Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary. She approached this work with the same kindness, curiosity, and commitment that she brought to every part of her life. When faced with her ALS diagnosis, Jacqueline met it fearlessly, with grace, resilience, and the quiet strength that defined her.

She is survived by her husband, Patrick Hester; her daughter, Erica Bottorff of Ventura; her twin sister, Janice Buckelew of Nipomo, California; and her brother, Versa Arbon Carter Jr., and his wife, Ellen Carter, of Jacksonville, Florida.

A celebration of Jacqueline’s life will be held, with details to be announced at a later date. Her warmth, courage, kindness, and love of the outdoors will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.