HOWARD — John M. Bess, 51, of Howard went home with the Lord on Dec. 17, 2009, at 10:53 a.m., following a courageous battle with cancer.
John was born March 8, 1958, in Martins Ferry, Ohio, to William and JoAnn (Kurko) Bess, and was a graduate of Ashland High School. He had been an employee of Hydromatic Pump in Ashland for 27 years and for the past year had been employed at The Gorman-Rupp Co. in Mansfield. John was an outdoor sportsman and an avid ice fisherman. He was a moderator for IceShanty.com, had a great eye for hunting mushrooms and loved his blue birds.
Surviving are his wife, Brenda (Seymour) Bess; his daughters, Shannon Kitts, (Nicholas Parsons) and Elizabeth Smith (Jason Fawcett), both of Howard; his grandchildren, Noah and Evan Kitts, Tyler Smith, Macie, Logan and Taylor Fawcett; his father, William Bess of Mansfield; brother, Bill Bess of Wooster; sisters, Pat Bess of Ashland and Michelle Bess of Lexington; father and mother-in-law, Paul and Carolyn Seymour of Fredericktown; brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Elizabeth Seymour, also of Fredericktown; sister and brother-in-law, Lori and Clay Revis of Amelia, Ohio; and special friends, Chip, Karen and Sara Salyer of Glenmont, Ohio.
John was preceded in death by his son, Thomas (Boog) Bess; his mother, JoAnn Bess; his sister, Linda Shoenberger; and brother, David Bess.
The family will observe private graveside services at Forest Cemetery in Fredericktown, with Pastor Mary Miller officiating the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Knox County, 1770 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. To send an online condolence to the family visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
The Snyder Funeral Homes in Mount Vernon are honored to serve the family of John M. Bess.