Obituary: Ben Bessent, January 13, 2015

Contributed by Brenda Scott Hines
July 2015
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The Observer/Enterprise,Coke County, Friday, January 23, 2015

Ben Bessent was born December 22, 1936, in San Angelo, Texas, to 
parents Charlie W. Bessent and Lou Ella Bilbo Bessent. He died on 
January 13, 2015.

His family lived in Robert Lee, Texas, and upon graduation from 
Robert Lee High School in 1955, Ben attended San Angelo College 
and Odessa College. He was married to Mary Angeline Vaughan on 
July 8, 1956. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, 
Bobby Joe and Charles Bessent, his parents-in-law Robert and 
Pauline Vaughan, and his beloved grandson, Cody Bill Bessent.

Ben was an entrepreneur who began his work career at the age of six, 
washing dishes at a local café where he had to stand on a box to 
reach the sink. People in Robert Lee knew him as Benny, the boy who 
came up with ideas like selling snow cones, shining shoes, or selling 
the Grit newspaper. As a teenager he worked for Earl Roberts in a 
local grocery store. Early on Ben showed his great drive when he won 
an award from The Abilene Reporter for his high percentage of paper 
sales. Ben was definitely a people person and a salesman. 

He began working for Vaughan Chevrolet in 1954, and Robert Vaughan 
became his mentor and later his father-in-law. They developed a close 
and lasting bond until Robert's death in 1998.

After Ben and Mary married, they moved to Odessa where he worked 
for Bronco Chevrolet and attended Odessa Jr. College. In 1958, he 
went to work for Mobil Oil Co. on a seismograph crew and lived in 
McAllister, Oklahoma, and Liberal, Kansas, during that time. He 
returned to the car business in 1959, taking a job with Mustang 
Chevrolet in San Angelo. In 1968, Ben and Mary returned to 
Robert Lee, became partners in Vaughan Chevrolet, and when 
Robert retired, Ben became the sole owner of the dealership.

In 2004, Ben Bessent Chevrolet was sold, and Ben retired. After 
three weeks of retirement, Ben said, "No, retirement is not for me." 
So Ben's good friend, Mike Mitchell of Mitchell Buick/GMC gave Ben 
the opportunity to continue the career he loved where he could 
sell cars, see old friends, make new friends, and have a great time.

Ben lived his life with intensity, giving 150% of his energy to 
everything he loved, which included his family, his friends, his 
work, and barbeques at the pool. In fact, he always said, "I want 
everybody to know that I had more fun than anyone! And I 
played Pebble Beach!"

Ben is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary, his children Craig 
and Lisa Gilstrap Bessent, Randy and Cindy Ash Bessent, and Lisa Myers. 
Ben also leaves three grandchildren, B.J. Bessent and wife Rachel, 
Katie Bessent, and Shaye Anne Atwood and husband Ross. Ben also 
leaves three great-grandchildren, Cody and Cali Bessent and 
Hudson Atwood, as well as a cousin, Katrina Hallmark, who has 
been like one of Ben and Mary's daughters.

The family wants to thank Dr. John Harvey, Dr. Walter Rustmann, 
Dr. Raj Cheruku, and Dr. Gene Sherrod as well as Gentiva Hospice 
for their compassionate and loving care.

Visitation was held all day Thursday at Shaffer Funeral Home with 
the family present from 6 pm to 8 pm. Funeral services were held at 
the First United Methodist Church in Robert Lee, Texas, on Friday, 
January 16, 2015, at 10:30 am.  Services were under the direction 
of Shaffer Funeral Home. Memorials may be sent to First United 
Methodist Church of Robert Lee. On line condolences may be
made to www.shafferpioneer.com

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