BLOOMFIELD -- Gerald M. Bess, 84, died Dec. 13, 2007, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.
Born Oct. 1, 1923, at Advance, to the late Beauford and Lona White Bess, he had spent most of life in Bloomfield where he was a 50-year member and past master of Bloomfield Masonic Lodge No. 153 AF&AM. He was a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of St. Louis, Bloomfield Order of the East Star Chapter No. 385, the Bloomfield American Legion Post No. 382 and Trinity United Methodist Church in Bloomfield where he served as a Sunday School teacher. A U.S. Army veteran and prisoner of war during World War II, he retired in 1984 as a rural carrier from the Bloomfield Post Office.
On June 16, 1944, he married Lenora Powers who preceded him in death on April 9, 1964. On Dec. 24, 1968, he married Bonnie Lee who survives of the home.
Other survivors include: one son, Dennis Bess of Bloomfield; three stepsons, Carroll Boswell of Bowling Green, Ky., Eldon Boswell of Scott City and Tom Boswell of Puxico; one stepdaughter, Connie Pixley of Bloomfield; and 26 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Mike Bess; one brother, Kenneth Bess; and one sister, Janette Moore.
Visitation is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, with Masonic Rites at 7 p.m., at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. Services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Sunday with the Revs. Susan Hoyle and Kevin Eskew officiating.
Burial will follow in the Bloomfield Cemetery.