Bessie Virginia Youngblood

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Mrs. Bessie Virginia Youngblood, 89, of Blytheville, passed from this life Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at the Heritage Square Nursing Center in Blytheville. Bessie was born to Gus and Evia Lee Holman Crouch in Nutbush, Tenn., and had been an area resident for most of her life. Bessie was a retired sales associate at the Kress Department Store in Blytheville and a member of the Beacon Baptist Church.

Bessie was an individual whose strength in God gave her the courage and stamina to keep going after the loss of her husband, Henry Youngblood. He was her champion and partner and their lives were very much entwined as they both enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Bessie loved to get up early, prepare breakfast and pack a lunch to take for a day of hunting in the woods or fishing on the lake. She could hunt with the best of them and would never pass up an opportunity to go fishing. Bessie also loved sewing and quilting and visiting with old friends.

Bessie was never at loss for words. She would sit and spend hours sharing stories of her vivid childhood; her cherished memories with Henry and her beloved mother along with her interesting experiences at Kress Department Store. Amazingly, she never seemed to run short of stories. She spoke often of summer reunions when her family would come together for fellowship, lots of food, and just good ole-time fun. Much more could be said about this unique lady but those who knew her well would agree her life spoke for itself.

Bessie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Henry; and brothers, J.W. Gean, Roy Crouch, Earnest Rodgers, Vernon Gean and Jimmy Gean; and sisters-in-law Lucy Rodgers, Helen Gean and Lou Nell Gean;

Bessie is survived by her nieces, Ursula Preston and Linda Rajski of Temecula, Calif., and nephews Jerry Gean and James R. Gean, all of Waukesha, Wis.;

Sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Gean of Waukesha, Wis., and Rita Crouch of Temecula, Calif.,

A cousin, Cynthia Whalen of Blytheville;

Her caregiver and friend, Nell Beard of Blytheville; and

Many great-nieces and nephews and several other special friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Billy Holifield officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday from 12:30 p.m. until service time, also at Cobb Funeral Home. Interment in Elmwood Cemetery will be private. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sweet Dreams Program c/o H.I.S. Ministries, Blytheville, Ark.