M. Carol Bessey

Carol Hossner Bessey, 91, of Ashton, Idaho, died Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at Ashton Living Center of congestive heart failure and other complications.

Carol was born Dec. 17, 1919, in Greentimber, east of Ashton, to Frederick and Luella Phillips Hossner.

She attended elementary school at Greentimber and graduated from Ashton High School in 1936, where she was a co-valedictorian.

She graduated from Groom Beauty School in Idaho Falls in 1938 as a registered cosmetician and worked as a beautician for two years in Ashton and Driggs. She also worked as a cook for one summer on the JY Dude Ranch east of Ashton, and another season at Dan Trude Lakeside Lodge and at Grubb Ranch, both in Island Park.

In December of 1942, she joined the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) and was stationed at Ft. Riley, Kan., where she met her future husband, Grant. They were married Sept. 2, 1944, at Ft. Riley. She later wrote a book about her three years spent in the Army titled "Battle of the WAC." Following their discharge, they made their home east of Ashton, where Grant farmed and Carol worked for local newspapers. She was editor of the Ashton Herald, Herald Chronicle and Fall River Review newspapers for over 25 years, retiring in 1991. She was also a contributing reporter for the Post Register for several years.

Carol enjoyed writing, working crossword puzzles, gardening and traveling by tour bus with her husband, Grant. She was known for her homemade bread and especially her lemon meringue pies. In her later years, she especially enjoyed spending time on the phone talking with family and friends.

Following Grant's death in 1996, she continued living at home by herself and resided there until moving to the living center six months ago. Here, she took advantage of the center's activities and programs and was an active participant in all aspects of the home until shortly before her death.

She was a member of Ashton Community United Methodist Church and was the oldest member both in age and number of years of the Greentimber Goodfellowship Pinochle Club. She was a member of American Legion Post No. 89.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Grant; brothers, Ray, Ralph and Earl Hossner; and sisters, Goldie Zitting, Neola Vik, and Gladys Hossner, who died in infancy.

She is survived by her children, Helen (John Kinler) Bessey of Ashton, Herb (Norma) Bessey of Waitsburg, Wash., Joyce (ElRoy) Leonard of Ashton and Jeanette (Lothar) Eidinger of Ashton; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and her special friend, Tom Lallatin of Newcastle, Wyo.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at the Ashton Methodist Church with John Blower officiating. Burial will be in Pineview Cemetery. (bio by: [fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=47282339" target="_blank Annie)]

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 28 2017, 5:24:23 UTC