Alexander, Bessie M. 1881-1974

ALEXANDER, EARL, EVES, ALLEE, BARET, CHANCE, WYLIE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 3/10/2014 at 13:16:34

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
July 1974

MRS. ALEXANDER
SERVICES TODAY

Bessie M. Alexander, 92, of 713 Main St., Grinnell, died Monday afternoon, July 8, at Friendship Manor, following an illness of the past few weeks.

The daughter of Josiah and Rebecca Earl Eves, she was born July 12, 1881 at Lynnville and received her education in that community. In 1900, she was married to Leonard Allee, and the couple farmed in the Searsboro community. They farmed in Kansas for seven years, then returned to Searsboro, later making their home in Albia where Mr. Allee preceded her in death in 1956.

She was married to John W. Alexander of Grinnell on Oct. 9, 1963, and they had lived in Grinnell since their marriage. In July, 1973 they moved to Friendship Manor.

Mrs. Alexander was a member of the First Friends Church and taught Sunday School for many years.

She is survived by her husband John; four children, Mrs. Leslie (Winnifred) Baret of lake Wales, Fla.; Mrs. Harold (Wanneta) Chance of Lake Wales; Mrs. Gwen Wylie of Altoona; and Oran R. Allee of Marion, Ind.; 12 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was the last surviving member of a family of 13 and, besides her first husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; 12 brothers and sisters; a grandson; and one daughter, Eloise.

Funeral services for Mrs. Alexander were held at 2:30 p.m. today (Thursday) at the First Friends Church with the Rev. L. Willard Reynolds and the Rev. Winford Clifton officiating. Soloists were Mary Lou Mikel and Ruth Dunnick, and the accompanist was Marilyn Burnham. Organist was Mrs. Harriet Macy and serving on the flower committee were Jean Morrison and Mildred McDowell. Pallbearers were Howard Macy, Loring Macy, Roy Copeland, Wilbur Stanley, Dale McFarlin and Don Kiester.

Burial was in the Friends Cemetery, Lynnville, with the James-Schalinske Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.