WILLIS BESS

Graveside service for Willis R. Bess of St. Louis was held Monday at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.

Ted Foster and Sons Funeral Home in St. Louis was in charge of arrangements.

Bess, 84, died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1999, at Christian Northeast Hospital in St. Louis County.

He was born May 20, 1915, at Ava, son of George W. and Margaret E. Bess. He and Clarice O'Flynn Sykes were married in 1960. She preceded him in death.

Bess was educated in the Cape Girardeau Public Schools, and attended St. Louis University.

He was a health inspector for the city of St. Louis, and then worked for the U.S. Postal Service 34 years.

Bess was a life member of National Association of Letter Carriers.

He served three terms in the U.S. Army, and received three Bronze Stars.

Survivors include three stepdaughters, Beverly Hill of Virginia Beach, Va., Yvonne Reed of St. Louis, Dr. Richael McClure of Austin, Texas; two brothers, Warren Sherwood of Mt. Clair, N.J., and Donald Sherwood of Cape Girardeau.