Forever with Us
Bessie Faye McCallister, daughter of Pary Franklin Bryant and Lola (Davis) Bryant was born May 10, 1930, in Summersville, Missouri. Bessie passed peacefully at 92 years of age at Ozarks Healthcare Hospital in West Plains, Missouri on June 25, 2022.
Bessie was a shiny-haired blonde beauty who grew up on Big Creek. From early rise to dusk, she ran the hills, swam in the river, swung from tree limbs, and discovered caves. She enjoyed the Summersville Skating Rink and the movie theater during her high school years. She was the oldest sister of six children (two boys and four girls).
She married young, straight out of high school, to James Author Barnes. They had six children: James Author Jr., Perry Thurlow, Carl Ray, Robert Lee, Rhonda Faye, and Wanda Kaye. Her faith sustained her through numerous hardships and tragedies including the passing of her husband James.
Bessie remarried to Ralph Nathaniel McCallister, Jr. in 1971, and moved to Texas. With her entrepreneurial spirit she owned and ran several beauty shops, sold makeup through Mary Kay, and was a makeup specialist for Beall's Department Store for many years.
Bessie always had a smile on her face, loved to laugh, and lived every day to its fullest! "If you don't have dreams and plans, you're not living!" was her mantra. Bessie loved to cook which meant if you ever stopped in, you were welcome and sure to find a delicious homecooked meal. She was always busy with her love for gardening, quilting, canning, embroidering, reading her Bible, and listening to her old-time country music. She taught Sunday School for over 25 years at First Baptist Church in Summersville.
Preceding Bessie in death are her husbands James Barnes and Ralph McCallister, her beloved sons James Barnes Jr. and Robert Barnes, her beloved daughter Rhonda Irey, her parents Pary and Lola Bryant, brothers George Bryant and Wayne Bryant, sister Melba Randall, brothers-in-law Robert Randall, John Nugent and Dexter Brown, and sisters-in-law Kathryn Bryant and Beulah Bryant.
Bessie is survived by her children Thurlow Barnes and wife Janet, Carl Barnes and wife Carolyn, daughter Wanda Sokol and husband Ron, her stepchildren Kay and David McCallister, her sisters Peggy Nugent and Sharon Brown, her sister-in-law Roena Barton, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.
Graveside services Bethel Cemetery, Tuesday, June 28, 2022, 10:00 AM, Summersville, Missouri 65571
Bradford funeral home in charge.