WILLIAM BESS

SIKESTON -- William Bess, 75, of Sikeston died Sunday, March 23, 1997, at his residence.

He was born Oct. 25, 1921, in Blodgett to A. Wayne and Mae Caughlin Bess. He graduated from Sikeston High School in 1939 and attended Southeast Missouri State University, the University of Missouri Columbia and Purdue University.

He received a degree in banking from Southern School of Banking, Tulane University. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He returned to Sikeston in October 1945 and went into business with his father in the Bess Distributing Co. until he joined The First National Bank in 1970 as senior vice president and a member of the board of directors.

In 1985, he became the president and chief executive officer of The First National Bank. He retired in 1988. He then assumed the position of president of the emeritus board of directors for the bank.

In 1982, he became president of Continental Bancorporation and remained there until his death.

He was a member of the Sikeston Masonic Lodge 310 AF and AM, a 32-degree Mason, a member of Scottish Rite and the St. Louis Moolah Shrine Temple. He was also a member of the Lions Club, a past president of the Sikeston Jaycees, former chairman of the Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities during the time that the power plant was built.

He was a trustee of the First United Methodist Church and a member of the administrative board. He was a board member of the Bootheel Food Bank, SEMO Port Authority and The Salvation Army.

He married Harris Ashley on March 4, 1944, in Sikeston, and she survives him.

He is also survived by two daughters, Ann B. Matthews and Martha M. Kiesling, both of Sikeston; a brother, A. Keith Bess of Sikeston; four grandchildren; and a granddaughter.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Fred Leist officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery.