Bessie "Bess" N. Thomas, 101, a longtime resident of Wichita, Kansas passed away on Thursday, September 12, 2019. She was born in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, on September 7, 1918 to Dennis Taylor and Elsie (Johnston). Bess was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Jeri Thomas Patten, brothers Jim Taylor, Richard Taylor, and Jack Taylor, and sister Pauline Taylor Seaney. She is survived by son-in-law Noel Patten of Sayre, Oklahoma; brother Rev. John Taylor of Canon City, Colorado; grandchildren Briton (Virginia) Patten, Clarendon, Texas; Stephanie (James) McGuire, Edmond, Oklahoma; Thomas (Penny) Patten, Sayre, Oklahoma; great grandchildren Abigail (Cole) Llewellyn, Annie (Barrett) Coon, Reagan McGuire, Patten McGuire; and great-great-grandson Brecken Coy Coon. Bess graduated from Wichita North High School and went on to be a legal secretary for the US Government retiring from the Veterans Administration in 1980 after 40 years. The Monday following her retirement she began her long history in service and volunteer work including for the Red Cross, Hospice, Old Cowtown Museum, missionary box work ministry at Wichita First Church of the Nazarene and many more. She enjoyed playing piano for many years at several local churches including Grace Nazarene, Indian Hills Nazarene and Mulvane Nazarene.
A memorial service is to be conducted at 2 o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 28th of September, in the chapel of Hillside Funeral Home West.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the service or volunteer organization of your choice.
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