CRAMER BESS

PERRYVILLE -- Cramer Hobson Bess, 70, passed away Monday, Jan. 24, 2000, at Perry County Memorial Hospital.

He was born Aug. 10, 1929, in Jackson, son of Hobson and Maude Cramer Bess. He married Mary Lou Clingingsmith June 18, 1954. She survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Richard Bess of Dearborn, Mich., and James Bess of Perryville; two daughters, Kathy Kutz of Uniontown and Edna Decker of Oak Ridge; a brother, Gene Bess of Poplar Bluff; two sisters, Mildred Phelps of Jackson and Ruth Ann Morris of Arnold; two grandchildren, Ashley Kutz and Adam Decker.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Bess graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1945. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict.

During his early years he worked for the former Guth Brothers Block Plant, the former William Lang Trucking, and the former Farmers Limestone. He also transported cars for Ford Motor Co. a number of years. In 1996 he retired from Gilster-Mary Lee Corp., where he worked 18 years.

As an avid horseman, he was a member of the Walking Horse Association and the Racking Horse Association. He was a member of Kemmer Stock Mountain Cur Breeders Association, Millersville Masonic Lodge, and Moolah Shrine in St. Louis. He was of the Presbyterian faith.

Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26. A Masonic service will be held at 7.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, at the funeral home. The Rev. Ed Hankinson will officiate. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Shriners Hospital.