1920
Bessie
2007
Bessie Marie Pless Hemphill
June 6, 1920 — March 2, 2007
HARLINGEN:
Bessie Marie Brashear Pless Hemphill, 86, passed away Friday, March 2, 2007 at Valley Baptist Medical Center.
Bessie Marie Brashear Pless Hemphill was born on June 6, 1920 in Greenwood, Arkansas to Edward and Esther Brashear. She was the fifth of nine children. She had four older brothers and two younger brother and two younger sisters. In the early 1930’s her parents moved the whole family from Arkansas to the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.
Bess graduated from San Perlita High School and attended Southmost College in Brownsville.
She was employed by the Texas Employment commission in Raymondville. There she met Paul Pless. They were married on September 1st, 1940 in Paul’s home in Raymondville. They had two sons, William Paul, and Gary Lee. The family lived in Brownsville, Texas from 1942 to 1973. Then they moved to Harlingen, Texas where they owned and operated “Paul & Bess Western Wear.” Sam Glass Minimax, Inc. in Brownsville also employed Bess for 22 years.
Paul and Bess were square dance callers and instructors. They taught hundreds of teenagers in the Brownsville schools to square dance in the early 1950’s. Those former students are now adults scattered all over the world. Paul and Bess also organized and taught the first Winter Texan square dance club in the Rio Grande Valley in 1962. From there, they went on to organize Winter Texan square dance clubs in Pharr, Weslaco, Mercedes and Harlingen.
Paul and Bess were married for 38 years. Paul passed away in July of 1978.
Bess continued teaching and calling square dancing for several years after Paul’s death. Then she began to teach ballroom and country western dance classes around the Valley. It was in one of these classes, that she met her present husband, George Hemphill. They were married on May 23rd 1992. Together they continued teaching for many years throughout the Valley.
Bess brought fun, friendship, love and happiness to many, many people through her dancing for their own dancing pleasure until her death.
Her husband, Paul Pless and her youngest son Gary preceded Bess in death. Also, her parents, Edward and Esther Brashear and brothers, Bee, Louis, Walter, Lloyd, David and sister Lula Mae Ross preceded Bess in death.
Her husband George Hemphill, son William Paul Pless, sister, Sue Nan Leach, and brother, Truman Brashear as well as three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews survive her.
Visitation will be held Sunday, March 4, 2007 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Services will be on Monday, March 5, 2007, 9:30 a.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home in Harlingen
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Bessie Marie Brashear Pless Hemphill, 86, passed away Friday, March 2, 2007 at Valley Baptist Medical Center.
Bessie Marie Brashear Pless Hemphill was born on June 6, 1920 in Greenwood, Arkansas to Edward and Esther Brashear. She was the fifth of nine children. She had four older brothers and two younger brother and two younger sisters. In the early 1930’s her parents moved the whole family from Arkansas to the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.
Bess graduated from San Perlita High School and attended Southmost College in Brownsville.
She was employed by the Texas Employment commission in Raymondville. There she met Paul Pless. They were married on September 1st, 1940 in Paul’s home in Raymondville. They had two sons, William Paul, and Gary Lee. The family lived in Brownsville, Texas from 1942 to 1973. Then they moved to Harlingen, Texas where they owned and operated “Paul & Bess Western Wear.” Sam Glass Minimax, Inc. in Brownsville also employed Bess for 22 years.
Paul and Bess were square dance callers and instructors. They taught hundreds of teenagers in the Brownsville schools to square dance in the early 1950’s. Those former students are now adults scattered all over the world. Paul and Bess also organized and taught the first Winter Texan square dance club in the Rio Grande Valley in 1962. From there, they went on to organize Winter Texan square dance clubs in Pharr, Weslaco, Mercedes and Harlingen.
Paul and Bess were married for 38 years. Paul passed away in July of 1978.
Bess continued teaching and calling square dancing for several years after Paul’s death. Then she began to teach ballroom and country western dance classes around the Valley. It was in one of these classes, that she met her present husband, George Hemphill. They were married on May 23rd 1992. Together they continued teaching for many years throughout the Valley.
Bess brought fun, friendship, love and happiness to many, many people through her dancing for their own dancing pleasure until her death.
Her husband, Paul Pless and her youngest son Gary preceded Bess in death. Also, her parents, Edward and Esther Brashear and brothers, Bee, Louis, Walter, Lloyd, David and sister Lula Mae Ross preceded Bess in death.
Her husband George Hemphill, son William Paul Pless, sister, Sue Nan Leach, and brother, Truman Brashear as well as three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews survive her.
Visitation will be held Sunday, March 4, 2007 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Services will be on Monday, March 5, 2007, 9:30 a.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home in Harlingen
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
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