Bessie McClain Morris Cook, 95, wife of the late J.D. Cook and her first husband Herman Morris, passed away Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. Born October 6, 1921 in Spencer County, KY, Bessie was the daughter of the late Jesse Lee McClain and Zoe Alice Richardson McClain.

Bessie was also preceded in death by her sons, Wayne Morris, John Randall Cook, and Earnest Gayle Cook; her grandson, Vince Morris; two sisters, Jessie Keeling and Myrtle Daily; four brothers, Robert, John, Ben, and William McClain.

Bessie formerly worked as a teacher at Western Elementary School in the Anderson County and Spencer County Schools followed by serving 38 years with the KY Dept. of the Treasury. She was a member of the Sand Spring Baptist Church where she taught the TEL Sunday School Class for many years. She served over 50 years in the Order of the Eastern Star Hamilton Chapter #293 and was a member of the KY Teachers Assoc., Anderson County Homemakers, American Legion Auxiliary and a KY Colonel.

Bessie is survived by her son, Joseph D. "Joe" Cook and his wife Rosa of Lawrenceburg; two grandchildren, Joey Trent and Eric (Tanya) Cook; three great grandchildren, Megan (Justin) Clark, William Hayden Cook, and Harrison Thomas Cook; and her great-great granddaughter, Emerson Lynn Clark; her sister, Dorothy Thacker of Washington, IN; her brother, James (Norma Jean) McClain of Shelbyville; her sister-in-law, Pauline Cook of Lawrenceburg; and two special nieces, Judith (Tony) Sanders of Eminence and Mary Jo (Kelly) McEntyre of Lawrenceburg.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Sept. 28 ^th at Ritchie & Peach Funeral Home beginning at 1:00 PM. Dr. Terry Wilder and Dr. Mike Hamrick will officiate the service. Burial will follow in the Lawrenceburg Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 AM – 1 PM Thursday at the funeral home. The Order of the Eastern Star will hold a service at 1:00 PM Thursday.

Serving as pallbearers will be Tony Sanders, Thomas Toll, Justin Clark, Hayden Cook, Harrison Cook, Danny McEntyre, Kelly McEntyre, and Charlie Cammack. The staff of Morning Pointe of Frankfort will serve as honorary bearers.

Memorials are suggested to the Sand Spring Baptist Church, P.O. Box 166, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342.