Born October 9, 1933 in Rolla, Missouri to Robert H. and Carrie Bell (Beddoe) Lewis, she married Maurice Ball on January 3, 1953 in Salem, Arkansas. She later married Kenneth Dean Himes on September 20, 1980 in Tremont.
Surviving are one son, Maurice Ball of Pekin; two daughters, Deborah (Mark) Stephens of Fairfield, Ohio and Patricia Finley of Pekin; sixteen grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren and two brothers, Jack (Roxy) Lewis of California and LeRoy (Paula) Lewis of Rolla, Missouri and one half-brother, Fred Lewis of Rolla, Missouri.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Kenneth Ball; two sisters, Dollie Middleton, Wanda Steele and three brothers, Harold Lewis, Henry Lewis and Donald Lewis.
Bessie worked 17 years for Pekin Public Schools District 108 as a custodian. She then worked for Brownies Café in downtown Pekin as a cook. She last worked for Hopedale Nursing Home as a nurse’s aide, retiring in in Pekin.1983.
She was a member of Morton American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 318 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1232 Ladies Auxiliary
Bessie enjoyed flower gardening, sewing and quilting. She also enjoyed playing cards.
Her funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, October 21, 2022 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Chuck Grogan will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before the funeral. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 10393, Chicago, IL 60610.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com
