Bessie, who was born October 25, 1918, was the daughter of Willie and Cordia Goodin, who preceded her in death many years ago. She married Ester Curry on July 25, 1937. She faithfully loved him until his death in 1986. For most of her adult life, she had lived on Liberty Road in Columbia but for the last two years, had made her home with one of her sons, Ranel and his wife Kathy, on Vester Road, an area where she had spent much of her childhood as well.
She took great pleasure in being the mother to Don (Judi) Curry, Taylorsville, Indiana; Ranel (Kathy) Curry, Vester Road, Columbia; Margaret (Melvin) Antle, Liberty Road, Columbia; Jim (Wilma) Curry, Elizabethtown, Kentucky; and Dale (Deloris) Curry, Greensburg, Kentucky.
Seven grandchildren also brought much joy and laughter to her life. The grandchildren are Rhonda Burton, Randy Curry, Roxanne Roberts, Keith Curry, all of Columbia, Kentucky; Dana Sprong, Columbus, Indiana; Heather Paynter, Elizabethtown, Kentucky; and Rebecca Curry, Greensburg, Kentucky.
Bessie was also known as Grandma Curry to 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
While Bessie knew the joys of raising five children, she also knew the heartache of experiencing the death of her first-born, an infant daughter. She also grieved the death of one grandson, Michael Antle.
Bessie also had one brother (Clarence) and one sister (Annie) who died very early in life. She had four additional sisters who were also blessed with long lives and were well known in the community. These sisters were Clarice Holmes, Emma Goodin, Bertha Goodin and Gladys McQuaide.
Bessie understood her role in life very well. She found great significance in being a wife, mother and grandmother. Until age and ill health prevented it, she raised a very large garden and canned and froze the produce from that garden. She was also an avid quilter, having hand-pieced and quilted many, many quilts that she shared with others.
She was the oldest member at Bearwallow United Methodist Church, a community of believers that nurtured her in the faith and helped her to grow as a Christian and raise her family in the life-changing knowledge of Jesus Christ. She consistently used her talents and prayer life to help this congregation serve not only the surrounding area but was involved in The United Methodist Women, who diligently work to share the gospel around the world.
Her funeral Tuesday, November 29 at 11:00 AM in the sanctuary of Bearwallow United Methodist Church. Bearwallow UMC pastor Glen LaFond and Bessie's son, Dale, will preside at the worship service.
Interment in the Bearwallow Cemetery
Memorials are suggested to the Bearwallow Cemetery & may be made at the funeral home
Stotts-Phelps-McQueary Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements
Visitation after 3:00 PM Monday