Carroll Ellis Lester, 82, of Stoney Hill, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 5, 2025, surrounded by his family. Born on February 1, 1943, he was the younger son of Carl Eugene Lester and Lucy Grace Hare Lester.

Carroll spent the majority of his career in management at Old School Manufacturing Company while also maintaining a farm on his family's Stoney Hill property. Later, he and his brother, Bobby Gene Lester, established and operated The Smokehouse restaurant in Stoney Hill, Prosperity, where they served the community for many years. He was a member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joyce Shaw Lester; his daughters, Jennifer Lester Moore (Andy) and Leann Lester Rauch (Joey); and his grandchildren, Blair Ellis Moore, Laney Rae Rauch, Larken Faith Moore, and Cade Lester Rauch. He is also survived by step-grandchildren Lindsay Kathleen Moore and Noah Andrew Moore, and a step-great-granddaughter, Andie Keller Jumper. Additional survivors include his sister-in-law, Rosann Fulmer Lester; nephews Robert Dean Lester, Neal Joseph (Tammy) Lester, and Mark Christian (Beth) Lester; and a large extended family of great-nieces and nephews. He was predeceased, in addition to his parents, by his brother, Bobby Gene Lester.

Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church Cemetery, 4056 St. Luke's Church Road, Prosperity. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.

Memorials may be made to Stoney Hill Center, c/o Catherine Boozer, 360 Holland Boozer Road, Prosperity, SC or to St. Luke's Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, 4056 St. Luke's Church Road, Prosperity, SC 29127.

The family will be at his residence, 4197 Stoney Hill Road, Newberry, SC.