Bessie Sites of Bourbon, wife of the late James Earl Sites and daughter of 
the late William and Loretta (King) Ellis, passed away Saturday, 
October 22, 1994 at the age of 97 years.

Mrs. Sites was born August 12, 1897 near Leasburg, and was a life-time 
resident of the Bourbon area.  In July of 1918, she was married to James 
Earl Sites in Bourbon and to this marriage two daughters were born.  She 
farmed with her husband and had always grown two gardens.  Bessie was a good 
provider and a great cook who could make the most of little and sewed the 
majority of clothes for her children.  She was a woman with great vitality 
and was mid-wife for a vast majority of mothers in the Bourbon area.  She 
knew Christ as her Savior and was a member of the First Baptist Church in 
Bourbon.

She is survived by two daughters, Helen Collins of Bourbon and Mable Thurmond 
of Affton, Missouri; Brad Collins of Bourbon, 5 great-grandchildren, 
7 great-great-grandchildren, and one great-great-great- granddaughter; one 
son-in-law, Rev. Bill Thurmond, other relatives and friends.  Mrs. Sites was 
preceded in death by one brother, Howard Ellis, three sisters, Irene King, 
Hattie Wright, and Ruth Lanham, two grandchildren, Nancy Machelett and 
Gene Studdard, a great-granddaughter, Terry Studdardp, and one son-in-law, 
Ferd Collins.

Funeral services were conducted 10:00 a.m. Tuesday from the Eaton Chapel in 
Bourbon with the Rev. Oliver Mullen officiating.  Interment was in Hill 
Cemetery.  Funeral arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Chapel, 
Bourbon, Missouri.