Bessie Lorene Mitchell

Bessie Lorene Mitchell, 87, of Gentry, Ark., died Feb. 25, 2014, at Siloam Springs Nursing and Rehab, Siloam Springs, Ark. Born Dec. 15, 1926, in Perryton, Texas, she was the daughter of Jacob Schwab and Nellie Jennings Schwab. On June 23, 1946, she married Leo Mitchell in Plainview, Texas. Bessie lived most of her life in the Gentry and Decatur area where she was employed by Peterson Industries. She and Leo also raised chickens and had a dairy farm. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Highfill, Ark. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Mitchell; her parents, Jacob and Nellie Schwab; 10 brothers and sisters; and two great-grandsons. Survivors include six daughters, Linda Mitchell of Joplin, Mo., LaDena Downum and husband, Ted, of Elm Springs, Ark., Shirley Ames and husband, Roy, of Russellville, Ark., Thersia Herron and Dianna Herron, both of Gentry, and Pamela Waite and Jonathan of Klamath Falls, Ore.; 21 grandchildren; 67 great-grandchildren; and 17 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Highfill First Baptist Church, Highfill, Ark., with Brother Roger Robins and Michael Ames officiating. Burial will follow at Falling Springs Cemetery, near Decatur, Ark. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Ark. To sign the online guest book, visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.