Obituaries

       Bessie Beatrice Lamb, Daughter of Lowell Elwood Jackson and Maud Evelyn Chew Jackson was born Saturday, December 2, 1922 in Clarke County, Iowa and passed from this life Sunday, January 24, 2010 at her home in Osceola at 87 years of age.

        Bessie received her education in Clarke and Decatur Counties. She first attended Conwell Country School and then Doyle #7. Bessie graduated from the eighth grade at age 11 with the highest GPA in Clarke County. She then graduated from Grand River High School at 16 years of age.

        Bessie was united in marriage to Clark Dewaine Lamb on August 18, 1944 at Winterset, Iowa and two daughters blessed this union.

        Bessie began her working career as a young girl working on the farm with her parents and continuing throughout her marriage to Clark. She also worked hanging wallpaper and painting, selling Stanley Home Products, and in 1955 became the Deputy County Recorder, a position she held for several years. Bessie later worked at Monroe Buesch Agency which became Banta Abstract, was a secretary for Williams Brothers Pipeline, was the secretary for Richard Ramsey while he served as Clarke County attorney and two terms as Iowa Senator. Bessie had most recently served as a Deputy County Auditor for Clarke County, retiring in 2005.

        Bessie was a member of Business and Professional Women; active in the Republican Party and was a member of some neighborhood groups near Hopeville and Thayer. Bessie loved to listen to and play music. She also enjoyed sharing the art of ropemaking.

        Those relatives who preceded Bessie in death were her parents; husband Clark in 2006; sister, Bonnie Reasoner and her husband Dale; brothers-in-law, Harold McNeal, Carl Lamb, Doyle McConnell, Ralph Kreise and Eugene Foland; sister-in-law, Lorene Busick and her husband Russell, great great granddaughter, Lexy Quigley; nieces, Marlys Christensen, Martha "Marty" McHone; and son-in-law, Fred Apodaca.

        She leaves to cherish her memory; daughter, Marjorie Lamb of Osceola, IA; daughter, (Mary) Maud Margaret Cannon Apodaca of Lorimor, IA; sister, Mamie McNeal of Osceola; grandchildren; Marlene Ploessel of Leon, Anita Gilmore of Osceola, IA, John (Rhonda) Cannon of Chariton, IA, Adam (Karen) Cannon of Urbandale, IA, Duffy (Diana) Cannon of Grand River, IA, Ryan (Jennifer) Carson of Osceola, IA; honorary grandsons, Nathan Boyce of West Des Moines, IA and Danny Manchester of Osceola, IA; 17 great grandchildren, 7 great great grandchildren; 19 nieces and nephews; as well as many other relatives and a host of friends.