Bessie Kellems, 88, Lamar

Bessie Kellems, 88, Lamar, passed away, Friday June 24.

She was born June 12, 1928, in Tell City.

She was the oldest of twelve children born to William Joshua “Doc” Bryant and Mary Louise Ammons Bryant in Tell City on June 12, 1928.

She was a Christian. She married Louie Kellems on August 3,1946, who preceded her in death in 2009.

Bessie was also preceded in death by an infant son, Shane, daughter-in-law, Teresa Kellems and granddaughter, Vanessa Van Winkle, sisters, Ida Belle Bryant, Ruth Sandage, Mary Emma Kraft, Virgie Hoosier, Dorothy Nevitt and Betty Embrey, and a brother, Albert Bryant.

Bessie was a hard worker all of her life. She began working at age 13 and lived with families to do their cleaning and ironing. She worked at General Electric prior to marriage. Following her marriage, she was a homemaker for many years. She later worked at Dale Furniture, Swiss Plywood, Heritage Hills High School and retired from Kimball.

Surviving her are her children Jowashia (Mike) Day of Dale, Jack (Patti) Kellems of Greer SC, Carol Van Winkle of Lincoln City, Nancy (Marvin) Heilman of Newburgh, and Kevin Kellems of Lamar. She is also survived by sisters Linda Burdin (Woody) of Chrisney, Daisy (Butch) Meredith of Newburgh, Frances Cronin of Rockport, and brothers Kenny Bryant of Florida and Dick Bryant of Arkansas, and brother in law Porter Kellems of Dale. She is also survived by grandchildren Brandon Day, Sacheen Day, and Samantha Day, Andy Burl Kellems, Jaclyn Kellems, Emily Tychek, Sara Collins, Whitney Jordan, Haley Devine, Tyler Heilman, Andrew Kellems, and Lacey Collins. She is also survived by 22 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be on Tuesday, June 28, at 10 a.m. CDT at Fuller Funeral Home in Dale. Burial to follow in Lily Dale Cemetery.

Visitation is Monday June 27 from 3 to 7 p.m. CDT at Fuller Funeral Home.