Bessie H McGaffey

BESSIE MAE MCGAFFEY, 86, was born on July 26, 1927 in Daisetta, Texas. A resilient child of the Depression, she guided her family with quiet determination and an enduring love. She passed away peacefully on July 8, 2014. Bessie graduated from Lamar High School in Houston in January 1948. She was working as a secretary for Western Electric when she met a handsome Navy man, Otis McGaffey. After a whirlwind courtship, they wed on April 17, 1953.  Bessie and Otis were married for 57 years. When Otis retired after a long career with Southwestern Bell, they moved to Crosby, Texas. Where, uniquely, Bessie lived nearly three decades on the same street as two of her beloved sisters, Thelma Sontag and Frances Beard. This trio – endearingly nicknamed “The Golden Girls” – were closely weaved into each other’s lives; and joyfully shared rearing their families together. Bessie loved to travel, and enjoyed many family camping trips to Colorado and Garner State Park. It was with the Tri-City Grandma’s Club, that she had the opportunity to attend national conventions in New York, Washington, D.C., Seattle and Hawaii.  Above all, she cherished being “Nana” to her grandchildren.  Her hobbies were also reading, sewing, crocheting, playing dominoes and painting. She has left a treasured collection of artwork – including her favorites of the Texas bluebonnets. Bessie is survived by her children; son, Charles Otis McGaffey and wife Betsy Rossman; daughters, Carol Jean Kline and husband Mark Gregory Kline, and Christene Ruth McGaffey; granddaughters, Jessica Michelle Riels and husband CDR William Gregory Riels, Samantha Erin Kline, Charley Christene McGaffey and Summer Marie McGaffey; grandson, Cory Gabriel Katz; great granddaughters Margaret Mae Riels and Bennett Grace Riels; and many other dedicated and loving family members. The visitation will be at First Baptist Church Highlands, 210 N Magnolia, Highlands, Texas 77562, on Friday, July 11, 2014 from 2-4 p.m. The funeral service will follow at 4 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bessie McGaffey can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter at www.alztex.org.

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