Bessie Appleton

Bessie (Pope) Appleton, the daughter of W.E. & Rose Anne (Thomas) Pope, was born March 7, 1926, Knowles, Oklahoma.  She was one of 9 children, 4 brothers & 4 sisters.  Bessie attended school in Winona, Missouri, through the 10 ^th grade.  Bessie’s mother suddenly passed away just a few days before her 13 ^th birthday.  At the age of 15, she moved to St. Louis, Missouri, for a short time to live with her sister, Rosetta, and work.  Her sister, Violet, then invited her to move to Selman, Oklahoma, to live with her and finish her schooling.  Shortly after arriving in Selman, Bessie met Vernon Appleton.  They were later married on May 12, 1944.  To this union were born four children.  They spent most of their marriage living on a farm east of Buffalo, where Bessie was a housewife and helped Vernon work the farm.  In 1979, Vernon built them a home in Buffalo.  He passed away in 1986. Bessie was a member of 1 ^st Christian Church, Merry Workers Club, and Red Hat Ladies.  She loved to spend time with her children and their families.  Church was very important to her.  She enjoyed worshipping with her church family.  Her faith in God gave her the strength to face the difficult challenges of her life. Bessie was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon; parents W.E. and Rose Anne Pope; four brothers, Floyd Pope, Fred Pope, Oliver Pope, and Dale Pope; and four sisters Daisy Pope, Sadie Adams, Violet Krenz, and Rosetta Neal.   Bessie left her earthly home March 25, 2015, early in the morning. Bessie is survived by Vicki Cook and husband Jim of Okarche, Oklahoma; Lonnie Appleton and wife Terrilyn of Buffalo, Oklahoma; Kenny Appleton of Dodge City, Kansas; and Rose Anne Shank and husband Ronnie of Pampa, Texas; 11 Grandchildren, 16 Great-Grandchildren, and 2 Great-Great-Grandchildren, other nieces and nephews, and many friends.