Bessie McElyea

Bessie Wileen McElyea, 94, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, at The Lutheran Home.

She was born Tuesday, Jan. 10, 1922, in Sikeston, Missouri, to Marvin and Lena Godwin Hill. She and Odell McElyea were married Saturday, Dec. 27, 1941, at Matthews, Missouri. He preceded her in death in 1996.

Bessie worked as a cook and a waitress in various restaurants, including Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston.

She moved to Cape Girardeau from Sacramento, California, in 2004.

She attended St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

Bessie loved jigsaw puzzles, coloring and playing cards.

Survivors include two sons, Ron McElyea of Sacramento and Stan McElyea of Lathrop, California; a daughter, Brenda Payton of Columbia, Tennessee; a sister, Betty (Lloyd) Roth of Cape Girardeau; two sisters-in-law, Mozella Heuring of Sikeston and Barbara Hill of Cape Girardeau; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Willis, Charles, John and Bill Hill; and a grandson, Sean McElyea.

Friends may call from noon to 2 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. today at the funeral home, with the Rev. Mark Martin officiating. Burial will be at Sierra Hills Memorial Park in Sacramento.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.