Mary Lynn was born in San Antonio, July 25, 1933, and grew up in Houston, the only child of Dr. J Ernest and Hazel Hill. The apple of their eye, her parents showered her with love and adoration.  Her childhood was full of love and kindness. Mary Lynn had a large family of aunts, uncles and cousins in Tyler, and spent most of her holidays there. She spent her youth as a Rainbow Girl, a Girl Scout, riding horses, and unwinding with her parents at their bay house on Galveston Bay near Baycliff.

She graduated from San Jacinto High School and entered the University of Houston where she received a degree in Elementary Education.  Close ties were formed then with her sorority sisters and several of them became lifelong friends.

She met Fred Bessell on a blind date arranged by her best friend. He was a character, but she saw a thoughtful and generous soul through the awkwardness of a young man trying to impress her.  Fred’s father’s brand new Buick was wrecked in front of Mary Lynn’s parent’s house that night.  The shiny new car was rear ended by a careless driver while Fred had walked Mary Lynn to her front door at the end of the evening.  Watching Fred call his dad with the bad news, her heart warmed to Fred, and when he called for a second date, she accepted.  They fell in love and were married upon graduation in June of 1956. 

Fred attended medical school at UTMB in Galveston and Mary Lynn supported the family, teaching 6th Grade in Deer Park, and at the small elementary school on the Bolivar Peninsula.  While in Galveston, Keith was born in 1957 and David was born in 1961.

Times were tough on the young couple with two little boys, but the energy of youth and the deep respect and affection for each other pulled them through very difficult economic times.

In 1963, Fred had finished his residency and accepted a position as an orthopedic surgeon in Beaumont.  This allowed Mary Lynn to pursue her greatest calling; to be the core of her family; with all of the hard work and responsibilities that come with the job.  In 1966, Eric was born and now Mary Lynn was immersed in caring for and raising three boys and a husband who worked long hours and often was called out to emergency surgery in the middle of the night.

A pioneer “soccer mom,” dependable and there for her boys, she was constantly at scouting, 4H, tennis, YMCA football, school events, and many other activities.  Stops after school for Icee’s or weekend lunches to Carnation for a hamburger were welcome treats.  Swimming and tennis in the summer time at the Beaumont Country Club and West End Y were other gifts that she gave to her boys, always striving to give them a happy and loving childhood full of her time. 

Summers found her at the Beach Cabin in Port Bolivar, with Fred and the boys, connecting with cousins Stephanie, Lee, and Lisa. Mary Lynn loved a quiet walk along the beach to collect shells and listen to the gentle surf.

Her boys have fond memories of her great cooking.  From chicken spaghetti to homemade peach ice cream, she could do it all. On top of all that, she was active in the Junior League and the Medical Auxiliary as well as the Altar Guild of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.

Mary Lynn had a green thumb and earned the title of Master Gardener and was passionate about her Bonsai Trees, day lilies, and amaryllis. She also enjoyed snow skiing, fishing, and bird hunting with her husband and sons.

Retirement with Fred was grand. Traveling with Fred and his cousin, Ceci and her husband Dudley, to Africa, Turkey, and the Galapagos were fond memories.  We all heard stories of Blue footed boobies, dive bombing birds that stole sandwiches, crazy bus rides through mountain passes, and other fun adventures. 

Hosting dinner parties, enjoying wine and cheese with neighbors and colleagues as well as members of the church, the Monks from the Holy Family Monastery and close friends were always a blessing in a storybook marriage.

More than anything else, Mary Lynn was joined with Fred as one throughout fifty plus years of marriage. Looking through sixty years of pictures, you see the progression of a couple, completely in love with each other. Found tucked away in a box in their house were many love letters Fred had written to Mary Lynn during their courtship, affectionately referring to her as ‘honey or hon’ and typically ending with a sentence reinforcing his love for Mary Lynn.  One letter summed up Fred’s feelings for Mary Lynn ending “I will always love you for ever and ever, and then a little bit more.”

That deep love created challenges for both of them in the final years, as Mary Lynn bravely confronted Alzheimer’s and Fred watched his bride of over fifty years slowly slip away. Mary Lynn battled valiantly, trying the best she could to communicate, but it was especially hard for Fred. Barely five months after Fred passed, on the evening of February 25, 2015, Mary Lynn was reunited with Fred through Jesus. 

Mary Lynn touched the hearts of so many people with her kindness and nurturing spirit.  She will be greatly missed.  May God bless you Mary Lynn!

Her family is especially grateful for the great care givers, especially Darcus Wilson, in those final years who cared for her in Beaumont and also those at Autumn Leaves Memory Care Center in Clear Lake.

We miss you mom, your simile, your cooking, your dependability, your kind heart and especially your complete unconditional love. The homemade peach ice cream was pretty good too.  We are very happy that you and Fred are reunited, two souls joined together in absolute adoration and love.

Mary Lynn is survived by her sons, Keith Bessell and his wife, Karen, of Flower Mound; David Bessell and his wife, Wendy, of Friendswood; and Eric Bessell and his wife, Christa, of Valrico, Florida; grandchildren, Colin, Connor, Liam, Ashley, Alexandra, Courtney, Logan, Brandt, and Merrick; and great-grandchildren, Carter, Paisley, and Landry. 

A gathering of Mrs. Bessell’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, March 1, 2015, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.  Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday March 2, 2015, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 4090 Delaware Street, Beaumont, followed by her graveside service at 2:30 p.m. with family members at the family cemetery in Old Waverly, Texas. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 4090 Delaware Street, Beaumont, Texas 77706.