Bess Alma Beasley Hood passed away Tuesday, May 10, at her home in Norman. She was 101 years. She was born on October 4, 1914 the daughter of George Washington Beasley and Fannie Lowe Ainsworth, just east of Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Mississippi where her families operated large farms and were original settlers.

She retired as Associate Professor Emeritus of Library Science at the University of Oklahoma and Director Emeritus of Cataloguing for the University Library. She attended Hazlehurst elementary schools then her family moved just south to Brookhaven, Lincoln County where she graduated from Brookhaven High School in 1931. She attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College at Wesson, Mississippi. She worked part time as a legal secretary while attending the college. Then she worked fulltime at the Lincoln County Health Department. She was selected by the Liberty Foundation of New York to be a part of a team to bring the community public health concept to Oklahoma.

Bess came to Oklahoma from Mississippi in 1937 to help start the fledgling Oklahoma state and county Health Departments. She met her husband, Dr. James O. Hood at a public health conference in Kansas City. Dr. Hood had resigned as Mayor of Norman to become the first Director of the Cleveland county Health Department. Bess was assigned to the Seminole County health department.

Bess and Jimmy married in Oklahoma City on September 29, 1939. She attended classes at OU, but the following year began the life of a citizen soldier's wife as the 45th Division was activated in September of 1940 and sent to Ft. Sill. Her eldest son, James O. Hood, Jr. was born in Lawton that December. Many Norman friends traveled to Lawton visit the Hoods. Dr. Hood was then the 45th's 179th Infantry Regimental Surgeon, the position he held throughout World War II.

Bess and Jamie followed the 45th as they moved from to various posts from Texas to the east coast until the unit was sent to Europe in fall, 1943. She returned to Norman to live for the war's duration. She had her second son, Robert S. Hood, in Oklahoma City after her "Jimmy" had deployed. She was surrounded and given the love and support in those war years by the large Hood family who adored her.

After the war, Dr. Hood resumed his position in Norman. Bess was active in the Cleveland-McClain Counties and State Medical Auxiliaries serving as President and as Chair of the State Mental Health Committee. Dr. Hood helped reorganize the 45th Division after the war and it was activated again for the Korean War. Bess moved her two sons to Leesville, Louisiana where the 45th was stationed … once again an army wife along with numerous other Oklahomans who had followed them in WWII. Dr. Hood was now Division Surgeon, however he was ultimately transferred to Germany and Bess moved back to Norman to wait until her husband could come home.

Before the Korean War Dr. Hood became Director of the OU Student Health Service and Ellison Infirmary and Bess became a University wife. She took more classes and supervised her sons' education in the Norman schools. She was always a home room mother to one or the sons. Her husband died at 54 just before Bob graduated from Norman High School. Her first grandchild was born three weeks after Dr. Hood died and Bess stepped into her new role as a Grandmother.

As more grandkids appeared she fulfilled that role while pursuing a degree at OU. She finished her degree in Library Science then worked for a few years for the Oklahoma State Department of Health as a traveling supervisor. She continued graduate studies and received a Masters of Library Science while working at the OU Library.
She then worked full-time as a cataloger. She was appointed to the faculty of the OU School of Library Science promoted ultimately to Associate Professor. She both taught and continued working at the library until age 72 where she continued as Director of Cataloguing part-time for more than a year until she finally had a replacement named. At her initial retirement party, the Director expressed his thoughts, "Bess we are sorry to see you go and welcome back".

She was active in her professional library associations, the OU University Women's Club, Faculty events and activities serving as an OU Faculty Senator. She was also a member of the 45th Division Association and the Norman American Legion Auxiliary as well as many other civic groups. A life-long Methodist She was a member of McFarlin United Methodist Church for 77 years. She also lived in her Norman home the same amount of time. She never lost her sweet southern accent that charmed everyone.

She was preceded in death by her four sisters, Hazel Higdon, Susie McCoy, Frances White-Brown, Jane Brown, and her brother, Sidney Beasley. All lived into their nineties with Susie living to age 100. Her beloved sisters-in-law, Dorothy Ash, Syebelle Butler and brothers-in-law, Fred Hood and Elmer Ash also predeceased her as well as a large number of her nephews and nieces.

She is survived by her sons: James O. "Jamie" Hood, Jr. and his wife, Beverly, of Norman and Dr. Robert S. "Bob" Hood, MD, and his wife, Kimberly, of Salt City; her 10 grandchildren, Jim Hood III and wife, Leslie Alford of Manhattan, Kansas, Rebecca Pestle and her husband, Daniel, of Redondo Beach, California, John Hood and his wife, Debra, of Orcutt, California, Paul Hood and his wife, Becky, of Danville, California, and Sarah Fruio, and her husband, Jason, of Boxwood, Massachusetts. Also, Amber Demastus of Norman, Gina Calger and her husband, Jarrod, of Tecumseh, Diane Feinauer and her husband, Jonathan, Mike Kennedy, and his wife, Lauren, and Chris Kennedy and his wife, Emily, all of Salt Lake City, Utah. Mrs. Hood is also survived by 30 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at the Primrose Funeral Home, Norman, Thursday, May 19 at 11 am with graveside services at IOOF Cemetery following. The Reverend Cal Brannon will officiate.