Clifford “Pops” Bessette, age 87, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at his home in Brownwood.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, at Davis-Morris Funeral Home, 800 Center Ave., Brownwood, with Brother Bill Slaymaker officiating. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday at Davis-Morris. Burial with Military Honors will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 24, at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Abilene.
Clifford was born on May 1, 1925, in Burlington, Vt., to Ernest and Lena Lord Bessette. He was married to Essie Hughes on Feb. 14, 1973, in Milton, Vt., and they came to Brownwood in 1975. Clifford proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II and saw action in the Ardennes and the Rhineland. He was a member of Christ Chapel and a Lifetime member of the VFW.
He is survived by his son, Running-Deer Bessette of Bangs; daughters, Teki Cass of Burlington, Vt., Pale-Moon Winslow of Orleans, Vt., and Hazel Duelette and husband Charles of Lakeland, Fla.; step-daughters, Noreen Gilbert of Arvada, Colo., Lorie McWhirter and husband Michael of Brownwood and Sherrie Nix of Brownwood; step-sons, Carl Boivin and wife Terry of Brownwood, Charles Boivin and wife Sandie of Essex Junction, Vt., and Garry Boivin and wife Gloria of Marshville, N. C.; sisters, Lena Frazier of Colorado Springs, Colo., Nancy Bessette of Burlington, Vt., and Joyce Bessette of Burlington, Vt.; brothers, Ervin Bessette and wife Dianne of Florida and Donnie Bessette of Burlington, Vt.; grandchildren, Mark Hayden of Texas, Bradley Hayden of Vermont, Daniel Francis of Vermont, Jerrick Bessette and wife Heather of Bangs, Silvia Bessette and husband Mike of Odessa, Julie Pyle and husband Michael of Robinson, Jessica Galloway and husband Dustin of Brownwood, Amanda Wilkerson of Brownwood, Sarah McWhirter of Brownwood, Elizabeth McWhirter of Brownwood, Joseph McWhirter and wife Erika of Lubbock, Jayson Nix of Brownwood, Justin Nix of Brownwood, Michael Nix and wife Lavonna of Stephenville, Robert Funderburg of Brownwood, Scott Funderburg of Brownwood, Clifford Boivin of Vermont, Daniel Boivin of Vermont, Richard Tanner of Vermont, Joshua Boivin of Texas, Melissa Tanner of Texas, Naomi Boivin of Vermont, Angelica Boivin of Texas, Ashley Moore of Vermont, Kimberly of Texas; and Christopher Flowers of Brownwood; great-grandchildren, Leighe Anna Rittiner, Kylee Rittiner, McKenzee Bobo, Lexus Carroll and Johnny Raymond Wilkerson; and special friends, Liz and Bryant Martin and Donnie Bessette.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Essie Mae Hughes Bessette; parents, Ernest and Lena Bessette; and son, Running-Bear Bessette.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to The Salvation Army of Brownwood. Condolences for the family may be left at www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com.