JIM Bob Duggar’s estranged late uncle Tommy Lester separated himself from his religious family before he came out as gay.
Jim Bob's uncle Tommy, 75, died on June 25 from cardiac arrest at his home in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal Tommy, 75, had separated himself from his family decades before his passing.
A source told The U.S. Sun: “Tommy removed himself from the family decades ago.
“Nobody kept in touch with him at all. All the family knows is that he was gay and was married. He separated himself from the family when the oldest Duggar children were young.”
Jim Bob, 57, and Michelle, 56, follow Bill Gothard’s Institute in Basic Life Principles, or IBLP, a religion that directly prohibits gay marriage.
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The U.S. Sun could not confirm if religious beliefs were the reason Tommy distanced himself from his family.
TRAGIC PASSING
In an incident report obtained by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, authorities responded to an “unattended death” on June 25 at the Arkansas home Tommy shared with his husband, Lawrence Nestrud.
The report read: “The First Responders located Tommy Lester in the master bathroom of the residence. First Responders moved Tommy to the living room and attempted life-saving medical treatment on Tommy. I was told they attempted life-saving medical treatment until Tommy passed away.”
The officer made contact with Tommy’s husband.
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Lawrence, 73, told the officer that Tommy “had not felt well and fell down multiple times the night before.”
He claimed Tommy refused to go to the hospital when he wanted to take him.
The report continued: “Lawrence stated Tommy was in the bathroom this morning. He heard Tommy asked for help. Tommy had fallen in the bathroom against the door. Lawrence forced his way into the bathroom and Tommy was unresponsive. Lawrence contacted CEMS.
“I asked Lawrence about Tommy’s medical history. Lawrence stated Tommy was not diagnosed with any medical condition. Lawrence explained Tommy’s memory was getting worse and he fell down more often.
"Tommy’s body did have bruises in the early and late stages of healing, this was consistent to Lawrence’s statement about Tommy falling down.”
The coroner said the death is “not suspicious” and that Tommy “appeared to have died of natural causes.”
It was determined he died of “cardiac arrest.”
TALKING TO DUGGARS
In a separate report, authorities went to Jim Bob and Michelle’s compound on the day of the death for a “follow-up investigation.”
A separate source told The U.S. Sun authorities went to the home to notify the Duggar family.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to The U.S. Sun's request for comment regarding authorities going to the Duggar compound.
'KIND, GENTLE AND INTELLIGENT'
In Tommy’s obituary, he is described as “kind, gentle and intelligent.”
The obituary read: “He graduated from Fayetteville High School. Tommy honorably served in the US Navy aboard the USS Henderson (DD-785) during the Vietnam Era. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Lester-Duggar.
“Tommy is survived by his spouse, Lawerence Nestrud; two siblings, Billie Lester of Farmington, Arkansas and Connie Beard and her husband Layne of Pea Ridge, Arkansas and a host of extended family members.”
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Funeral services will be held on June 29.
Despite the estrangement, the obituary states Jim Bob and Michelle's son-in-law Pastor Ben Seewald will be officiating the funeral.
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