Bessie Mae West, age 86, former resident of 116 N. Lincoln, Fort Scott, died Saturday, November 25, 2006 at the home of her daughter in Stella, Missouri. She had moved to Stella, Missouri in 2003. She was born July 26, 1920 in Fort Scott, the daughter of John Wesley Cady and Nellie Gross Cady. Bessie married Homer E. West on October 27, 1937 in Lamar, Missouri. He preceded her in death on July 20, 1978. She was a member of the Christian Gospel Chapel. She loved to crochet, read and work in the garden.

Survivors include two sons, Roland West, Hampton, Iowa and Harold West, Fort Scott; four daughters, Hazel Spielman, Newton, Joan Bailey, Fort Scott, Lessie Williams, Stella, Missouri, and Cheryl West, Arlington, Texas. Also surviving is a sister, Madge Hawkins, Fort Scott; sisters-in-law, Jeannie Cady of Texas and Margie Cady, Fort Scott; 40 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; and 21 great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Hester Forester; one son, Carl West; three brothers, Ralph Cady, Charles Cady, and Francis Cady; two sisters, Hester Margaret Cady and Clara Page; and two grandchildren, Robert Forester and Miranda Williams.

Danny Brown will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will be in the Chapel Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to either the American Heart Association or the American Lung Foundation and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.