McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Obituaries

November 16, 2012

Don Earl Bess

Staff Writer

McALESTER — Don E. Bess, 80 of Wilburton, died Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, at his home.

Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Indianola Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Brumley-Mills Funeral Home of McAlester.

Born March 29, 1932, in Indianola, he was the son of W.F (Bill) Bess and Martha Bess. He joined the United States Army in 1949 and was a Korean War veteran. He left the army and returned home in 1952.

He was an inspector at Rockwell/Boeing and McDonald Douglas and also owned service stations in the Tulsa area. He retired from Rockwell/Boeing in 1995 and spent time racing horses and at his home on Grand Lake, where he lived for 30 years before and after his retirement.

He enjoyed horses, fishing and spending time with family and friends

Survivors include his sons Don E. Bess Jr. and James B. Bess; his daughter, Dreama Smith; his ex-wife, Hazel (Jackie) Hurst.

Also, five grandchildren, Christopher Najera, Sky Bess, Seth Bess, Destiny Bess and Adam Bess; three sisters, Joy Shaw and her husband, Dewayne, Coretta Weddle, and Kay Ward and her husband, Gene, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John Riley Bess.

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