Bess, of Clovis, New Mexico; was killed in an automobile accident under icy road conditions east of Melrose near Clovis. She was predeceasing by her husband John Roland Kline Sr.; parents Lila Sweat Love and Moses H. Love; brother Lewis Love; two sisters Avella Largeand and Mildred Morgan; and son John R. Kline Jr. and his wife Aminta, who were killed in the same accident with her.

Bess was survived by son David (wife Karen) of Mesa, Arizona; daughter Debbie (husband Ronnie Fryar) of Ft. Belvoir, Virginia; five brothers Charles H. Love of Biloxi, Mississippi; Alton Love of Lambsburg, Virginia; Rudy Love of Rocky Mount, North Carolina; Merle Love of Columbia, South Carolina; and Jack Love also of Columbia, South Carolina; sister Erenstine Landers of Homesdale, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren: Katelyn Summer Kline, Skylar Elizabeth Kline, Michelle Miles, Tiffany C. Lewis and John Thomas Fryar; three step grandchildren: Brandon M. Urey, Hailey Rockford and Kylee Rockford.

Bess was a native of Dillon, South Carolina. She married John Kline on January 17, 1957, in Dillon. Because John served in the US Air Force, they lived in many different places until settling in Clovis in 1966. Bess became a florist in 1968 and owner of Klines Korner Floral until she retired in 2003. Bess was inducted into the Florist Hall of Fame in 1995. Bess was active in Clovis as a life member of the Plains Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, a member of the VFW Auxiliary, AmVet Auxiliary, American Legion Auuxiliary, Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, The BPOE Does, The Order of The Eastern Star, Daughters of The Nile and The Encanto Garden Club.

She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Memorial Services were on December 23, 2011 at Our Lady of Gaudalupe Catholic Church. Per Bess' wishes, she was cremated and her cremains were interred in The Santa Fe National Cemetery with her husband John.