Sorrowful farewell to mum, two sons
TRIBUTES and tears flowed yesterday at the funeral of a mother and her two young sons who were killed in a horror crash on the Warrego Highway in late September.
Christine Fay Lister-Walker, 38, and her sons Zach Brett Lister, 13, and Noel Frank Lister, 8, were remembered as caring, affectionate and loving.
Peter Lister – the boys’ father and Christine’s husband – spoke fondly of his sons.
“The boys were the best kids,” he said.
“Noel had this thing about cats, and when he was at home he would walk in on his hands and knees, walking like a cat.
“Zach was the more serious one and was always willing to learn. “I’m going to miss them terribly. “As for their mum, she came from the land, and that’s what I loved about her.”
Christine’s brother and uncle to Zach and Noel, Alex Walker, bravely struggled through his grief to deliver a moving eulogy.
“When I got the phone call that we’d lost Christine and my two beautiful nephews, it broke my heart,” he said.
He recalled the day his parents decided to adopt his sister Christine and the happy memories growing up on the family farm.
Mr Walker spoke of how Christine met Peter Lister.
“Even after they separated, Christine was thankful that the two boys had such a great father,” he said.
“She was a great lover of animals and had a deep affection for the farm dog, even going so far as having a name for every cow in the paddock,” Mr Walker said.
He recounted a story of how Christine nursed an injured cow back to health.
“Eventually when the cow got back on its feet, she cried with happiness and relief.
“I could talk about my boys forever – that’s what I called them, my boys.
“They couldn’t have been more different to each other, yet they both have a special place in my heart.
“Noel was the more reserved one and, like his mother, cats were his favourite.
“He loved his books, liked his computer games and liked to mix it up with a bit of sport as well.
“Noel could often be seen with his mum in the front yard kicking the ball with her.
“He really enjoyed sitting on the front carriage of the four-wheel motorbike while his mum drove around the farm checking on the cattle.”
Mr Walker said the blond-haired Zach charmed his way into his heart right from when he was a baby.
“When he started talking he would call me ‘Unky’, and it was the cutest damn thing that melted your heart.
“It was a term I’d never tired of hearing.
“The thing about Zach was his cheeky grin.
“It was kind of like, ‘I’m about to get into mischief, but I’ll charm my way out of it’.
“He was a very kind and considerate lad, who would always ask if he could help.
“It was Zach who taught my son how to ride a push bike.”
Zach’s cricket coach, Jason Lee, spoke about how his charge got a wicket with his first ball.
The Oakey mother and much-loved boys were farewelled by Oakey schoolmates, family and friends at Toowoomba Community Baptist Church at Glenvale.