Rebecca 'Susie' Butler Hester, formerly of Eldorado

ELDORADO - Rebecca "Susie" Butler Hester, 69, of Tampa, Florida, formerly of Eldorado, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at her residence.

She was born Feb. 27, 1948, in Houston to Joe M. Butler and Loveta G. (Butler) Dixon, who preceded her in death.

On Feb. 26, 1983, she married Marvin Lee Dean Hester.

She worked as a school guidance counselor at Fabens Middle School in Fabens, Texas, where she retired at the age of 48.

Upon retirement, she set new goals, which included hiking, canoeing and kayaking all over the country's national parks and spending time with her grandchildren, truly living life her way.

She planned and executed the greatest ride of her life, departing with her husband out of her daughter's driveway on Feb. 17, 2001.

"And though she be but little, she is fierce" (A Midsummer Night's Dream, William Shakespeare) for she bicycled 9,749 miles across the United States and back again.

She averaged 60 miles per day, carrying all of the gear she needed to camp out along the way. She told everyone that she wanted to get healthy and have fun doing it, and that the adventure actually restored her faith in people.

Survivors include her husband, Marvin Lee Dean Hester of Tampa, Florida; daughter, Traci G. Riley and husband Sean P. Riley of Tampa, Florida; two grandchildren, Rebecca G. Riley of Clearwater, Florida, and Seanna P. Riley of Tampa, Florida; three brothers, Joe Mac Butler and wife Ellen, Tommy D. Butler of Eldorado and stepbrother Michael Ray Dixon and wife Angela of Carbondale; and stepsister, Billie K. Meyers of Springfield.

A celebration of her life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, in Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado with her dear friend Kitty Martin officiating. Burial will be in Wolf Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at watsonfuneralhome.net.