Bessie Rhoades (Wilcox)

printed in The Pilot, 1985

BESSIE RHOADES

Bessie J. Rhoades, age 98 years, passed away at the Crowell Home on December 19, 1985. Bessie was born in the Maney School District, south of Blair on September 18, 1887, to Marshall and Eva Spaulding Wilcox. She attended the Maney School and Gaydou School of Business.

She worked for several law offices in Blair and for the county judge (John A. Carrigan). On June 5, 1912, she married Hallie Clarence French. He preceded her in death. Later Bessie was united in marriage to John A. Rhoades in 1942.

Bessie was a 50-year member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary, 50-year member of D.A.R., 50-year member and past worthy matron of Eastern Star, member of the Grange, Nebraska Society of Mayflower Descendants, Long Creek Historical Society, lifetime member of Washington County Historical Society, member of Blair Hospital Auxiliary, and member of First Congregational Church.

Bessie is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Robert (Grace) Poore, Bella Vista, Arkansas; one stepson, J. Hilton Rhoades of Blair, Nebraska; one step-daughter, Mrs. Fred (Priscilla) Lind, Omaha, Nebraska; four grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; one brother, Ray Wilcox, Omaha; and one sister, Mrs. Grace Carson of Omaha.

Bessie was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands; one son, Ray French; one daughter, Myrle C. Clements; two grandchildren, Cheryl Frolio and Milo Clements.

Services were held on Saturday, December 21, 1985 at the First Congregational Church with burial in the Arlington Cemetery. Pallbearers were Paul Jipp, Ed Jipp, J. Merton Kuhr, Everett Holstein, Raymond Wilson, and Vernon Christofferson.