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Elizabeth A “Bessie” Cross Willey

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Elizabeth A “Bessie” Cross Willey

Birth	:	23 Mar 1890 Coldwater, Comanche County, Kansas, USA
Death	:	15 Nov 1997 Wymore, Gage County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Liberty Cemetery, Liberty, Gage County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.0772018, -96.4982986
Description	:	WAR WIDOW TO TURN 99 By Darlene March Sun Special Contributor [1989] Wymore-On March 23, Bessie Willey will celebrate her 99th birthday. Her late husband, Joseph E. Willey, served in the Spanish American War, making Mrs. Willey the only widow of that war living in Nebraska. "I'm not aware of any other widow" living in Nebraska, said Diane Walton of the Regional Office for the Veterans Administration in Lincoln. "There is only one veteran of that war living," said Ms. Walton. "He is presently at a medical center... Read More	WAR WIDOW TO TURN 99 By Darlene March Sun Special Contributor [1989] Wymore-On March 23, Bessie Willey will celebrate her 99th birthday. Her late husband, Joseph E. Willey, served in the Spanish American War, making Mrs. Willey the only widow of that war living in Nebraska. "I'm not aware of any other widow" living in Nebraska, said Diane Walton of the Regional Office for the Veterans Administration in Lincoln. "There is only one veteran of that war living," said Ms. Walton. "He is presently at a medical center in Arizona." However, there are 3,556 widows still living, she said. "He volunteered in the army," Mrs. Willey said proudly. "It was completely a volunteer army at that time. He enlisted in Seattle, Wash., in 1899 and served for three years." Her husband was a member of Company I, 16th Infantry. On May 30, 1899, his company left on the U.S.A. Transport, "Grant," for the Philippines and arrived on June 26 in Manila. While in the Philippines, his company encountered persistent guerilla warfare and had many skirmishes with the insurgents while guarding the railroad and during the time they were patrolling the adjoining towns and countryside. As a result of the war, the United States won Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippine Islands. This war showed the need for the building of the Panama Canal. Her daughter, Mrs. Edith Williams, remembered hearing about a shipwreck. "I always thought as I was growing up that they were shipwrecked in a storm close to Japan and were picked up and taken to Japan," she recalled. "It was either on their trip to the Philippines or on their way home. I'm not sure." Mrs. Willey and her daughter said that the veteran did not talk about the war very much. Mrs. Willey was born on a farm near Coldwater Kansas, a small town 19 miles from the Oklahoma border. She had two sisters and three brothers. A brother, George Cross, 89, lives in California. Her sister, Lucy Cross Leming of Arkansas, died during the first week in March of this year at the age of 91. "I was seven years old when I started to school, she said. "I had to wait until my brother was old enough to go to school so we could have enough students for the one-room school." Joseph Willey came to Coldwater from Nebraska to build a house for her family. The Cross home had been destroyed by a fire. Bessie Cross married the construction worker and veteran on Jan 8, 1909. "After I married, my folks moved to Arkansas and we moved later to Nebraska," said Mrs. Cross. "Our first car was in 1916," she said. "We never had a driver's license. The guy who sold it to us showed it to us showed us how to start and stop it and we just drove it home. We fed the gas with one hand on the steering wheel." In 1919, they moved to a farm five miles south of Liberty where they lived until 1943 when they moved to Wymore. Her husband died in May of 1948 at the age of 74. A son, Richard "Dick" Willey died in 1985. In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Willey has five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. "Off and on for the last four years, I have lived here," said her daughter, who helps her mother with the housework. They live in a spacious home near the downtown area. The petite widow keeps herself busy during the day, weaving on her lap loom making place mats. "I make a place mat nearly everyday," she said. "I use to make lots of quilts when I could see better." "She still loves to play cards," said her daughter. Mrs. Willey belongs to the Friendly Neighbor's Card Club. She has been a member of Violet Chapter of Eastern Star for more than 60 years and still attends the meetings of the Wymore Women's Club. "We will be celebrating her birthday with a small family dinner," said her daughter. Mrs. Willey, dressed in a blue suit, said she knew of no secret for a long life. She said March 23 will be just another day for her. **************************************************************** She lived 49 1/2 yrs after her husband died. **************************************************************** OBITUARY 15 Nov 1997; Elizabeth A "Bessie" Willey, 107, of Wymore, died Saturday Nov 1, 1997 at the Wymore Good Samaritan Center. She was born Mar 23. 1890 at Coldwater, Kan where she spent her childhood, She married Joseph E Willey on Jan 5 1908 at her parents home at Coldwater. They moved to Marshall County Kan and then to the rural Liberty-Barneston area in Gage County in 1918. They moved to Wymore in 1943. She was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints at Lincoln, was a 66 year member of Violet Chapter #105, Order of Eastern Star at Wymore, Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, AARP and was a former member of ;the Wymore Woman's Club and the Friendly Neighbors Card Club. She was also one of the last Spanish-American War widows. She enjoyed playing pinochle. She is survived by her daughter, Edith Norris and her husband Robert of Wymore; by a daughter-in-law, Elaine Willey of Lincoln; by 5 grandchildren, Elizabeth Willey and Katherine Willey, both of Lincoln; Brian E Williams of Cypress Teas; Bruce A Williams, of Santa Barbara, Calif; and BRAD L WILLIAMS OF COLUMBUS OHIO; BY 6 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN; 2 STEP-GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, 1 STEP-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDSON, AND SEVERAL NIECES AND NEPHEWS. SHE WAS PRECEDED in death by her parents, George and Malinda (Willard) Cross; by her husband, Joseph E Willey, on May 6, 1948; by her son Richard L Willey, on Nov 17 1985; by an infant grandson, and infant great-grandson, by 3 brothers and 2 sisters. Organist was Shirley Coffey. Vocal duets were by Betty Meyer and Janet Sohl. Casket bearers were: Lloyd Wright, Leonard Focht, Pat Olmstead, John Robinson, Ron March and Raymond Eisenhauer. Funeral services were held at 1;30 PM TUESDAY, NOV 8, 1997 AT THE LAUGHLIN-HOEVET FUNERAL HOME, WYMORE. Elder LeRoy Roth of the Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints, Lincoln officiating. Burial was at the Liberty Cemetery, Order of Eastern Star Service was conducted by Violet Chapter #105. Memorial were established to the Wymore Rescue Unit and the Wymore Good Samaritan Center. Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home, Wymoe was in charge of arrangements.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Elizabeth A “Bessie” Cross Willey's memorial?
Elizabeth A “Bessie” Cross Willey's memorial is located at: Liberty Cemetery, Liberty, Gage County, USA.
When did Elizabeth A “Bessie” Cross Willey death?
Elizabeth A “Bessie” Cross Willey death on 15 Nov 1997 in Wymore, Gage County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Elizabeth A “Bessie” Cross Willey's memorial?
Latitude: 40.0772018
Longitude: -96.4982986

Family Members:

Spouse

Joseph Edgar Willey

(1874 - 1948)

Children

Edith O. Willey Norris

(1919 - 2020)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Liberty Cemetery
Liberty, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0772018, -96.4982986

2. Kinney Cemetery
Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1102100, -96.5588800

3. Barneston Cemetery
Barneston, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0661011, -96.5755997

4. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Barneston, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0653000, -96.5757980

5. Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Liberty, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0083300, -96.4825100

6. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1462250, -96.4676820

7. Mission Creek Cemetery
Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0149994, -96.4263992

8. Tanner Cemetery
Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0238991, -96.4143982

9. Mission Creek Cemetery
Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9866982, -96.4649963

10. Saint Johns Cemetery
Barneston, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0449982, -96.6380997

11. Bethel Cemetery
Wymore, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0588989, -96.6513977

12. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Burchard, Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1460991, -96.3683014

13. Burchard Cemetery
Burchard, Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1383018, -96.3538971

14. Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Burchard, Pawnee County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1822014, -96.4049988

15. North Elm Cemetery
Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9431000, -96.5325012

16. Richland Center Cemetery
Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9584000, -96.4073700

17. Oketo Cemetery
Oketo, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9571991, -96.5950012

18. Virginia Cemetery
Virginia, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2186012, -96.5117035

19. Summerfield Cemetery
Summerfield, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0005989, -96.3422012

20. Holy Family Cemetery
Summerfield, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9994011, -96.3414001

21. Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Wymore, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0015830, -96.6573720

22. Blue Springs Cemetery
Blue Springs, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1526800, -96.6627000

23. Calvary Cemetery
Wymore, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1225014, -96.6917038

24. Wymore Cemetery
Wymore, Gage County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1241989, -96.6917038