Brownlee, Bessie Alberta

Bessie Alberta Brownlee, 99, of Monmouth died at 6:24 A.M. Friday, February 20, 2009 at OSF Holy Family Medical Center, Monmouth.

She was born August 3, 1909 in Gerlaw, Illinois, the daughter of  Charles Able and Nancy Agnes (Sims) Ikerd.  She was raised and educated in the Gerlaw and Monmouth schools. 

Bessie married James Samuel Brownlee on December 31, 1927 in Monmouth and he died January 23, 2000.

Bessie was a farm homemaker at Eleanor near Little York where she and James farmed for 60 years and raised two daughters, Barbara Jean and Lavonne Kay. Bessie also worked at Woolworth’s, Monmouth Stone Company in the office and at Brown Lynch Scott as a bookkeeper.

She was a long-time member of the Sugar Tree Grove United Presbyterian Church and a special friend to the Gerlaw Christian Church.  Bessie and James where charter members of the Strom Senior Center where they were given Outstanding Ageless Achiever Senior Citizens Awards for their endless hours of volunteering.  She was in Home Bureau and was a leader of the Spring Grove 4H Club.  She was thrilled to be honored at the Prime Beef Festival Parade as one of the first attendees of the first Prime Beef Festival where she had met her husband.

Her hobbies include dancing with Jimmie, reading, cooking and preserving foods, camping, playing cards, crafts and crocheting.

Survivors include her daughter, Barbara Jean Nichols of Monmouth; grandchildren, Debra (Max) Kessler of Little York, Nancy Wright of Edwards, James (Lisa) Nichols of Monmouth and Alice (Steven) Schreiner, of Midland, NC; great grandchildren, Seth (Kendra) Kessler, Hayley Kessler, Emily Wright, Jesse Wright, Alexis Wright, Amanda Nichols, Matthew Schreiner, Derek Schreiner and Dalton Schreiner; sister in laws, Marie Chandler Tenhaaf and Nellie Brownlee and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one daughter, Lavonne Kay Hawk, one sister and three brothers.

Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Monday, February 23, 2009 at Hoover-Hall Memorial Chapel, Monmouth with Pastor Paul Lydic and Rev. Dottie Halverson officiating.  Burial will be in Warren County Memorial Park Cemetery.  Friends may call Sunday, February 22, 2009 after Noon where her family will be present from 2:00-4:00 P.M.  Memorials may be given to the Sugar Tree Grove Presbyterian Church or the OSF Holy Family Medical Center Long Term Care Unit. Online condolences may be left at hooverhall.com

Online condolences may left at hooverhall.com.