Thelma I. Bess, 77, of Hartford, Mich., formerly of Kennett, died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008, at Hartford.

Born Feb. 13, 1931, in Searcy, Ark., she was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Mary Benson Cooper.

On Jan. 19, 1952, she married Van Bess, who survives.

Survivors also include three sons, Larry Bess and wife, Dianna, of Lawrence, Mich., Kenny Bess and wife, Gayla, of Hartford and John Bess, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; one sister, Louise Cargo, of Lawrence; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one daughter, Vickie Bess; three brothers, Biddy, Donald and Raymond Cooper; one sister, Marie Lewis and one granddaughter, Valerie Bess.

Visitation will be held at 2 p.m., today, Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the McDaniel Funeral Home in Kennett.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m., today, Tuesday, Sept. 16, in the Oak Ridge Cemetery at Kennett.

Memorials may be made to the Borgess Visiting Nurse and Hospice.