Bessie I. Batson, age 102, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away on September 29, 2024, at the Strafford Care Center, Strafford, Missouri. Bessie was born to Newton A. Jarman and Mary E. (Hopkins) Jarman on February 24, 1922, the third youngest of eleven children, at Brush Creek, which is near Lebanon, Missouri. She was married to Earl A. Batson on May 18, 1938, in Ozark, Missouri. They shared 43 years of marriage until his untimely passing on October 21, 1985. The couple was blessed with six children: Patricia Estes, Earlene Frazier, Alice Rogers, Gordon, Mike, and Marty Batson.

In 1946, Bessie suffered an illness which required her to spend several months in a hospital in Mt Vernon, Missouri, after which she and the family moved to Colorado for her health. Through the years, the family lived in both Colorado and Missouri, finally residing just north of Springfield, Missouri, where Bessie spent the rest of her life, a total of 69 years, before going to the Strafford Care Center. Bessie was proud to recall and tell of how she went to elementary school with television personality, Bob Barker. She told of the many times he came to her house to play after school.

Bessie and Earl raised big gardens and she would can and put up large quantities of vegetables. They both worked hard at providing for their family. Bessie was employed for quite some time as a cook for the Springfield School District. She loved to share stories of the large amount of hot rolls and cinnamon rolls that she baked, and how much the students and staff enjoyed them.

Bessie was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; her youngest son, Marty; grandsons, Doug Batson and Pete Bass; great-granddaughter, Tara Bass; and great- grandson, Blake Estes. She is survived by her remaining children; 22 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; 26 great-great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-great-grandchildren. Bessie is also survived by a host of other relatives and friends.

The family will host a visitation on Friday, October 3, 2024, from 2:00-3:00 pm, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield. A funeral service for Bessie will be held immediately following her visitation at 3:00 pm. Bessie will be laid to rest next to her husband, Earl, in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens following her funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) to help support disabled veterans.

Arrangements are under the compassionate direction of Greenlawn North in Springfield, Missouri.