Obituary of Jessie Bennett

Jessie Lee Bennett, 86, of Doniphan died Thursday, January 18, 2007 at the Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan. Mrs. Bennett was born February 4, 1920, in Gatewood, MO. She had previously lived in Oregon County and moved to Ripley County in 1946. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Doniphan since 1946 and was current President for more than 50 years of the church's Women's Missionary Union (WMU). She volunteered at the Doniphan Nutrition Center and previously worked at AG Market and Lawrence Market. Mrs. Bennett was owner/operator of a restaurant in the late 1940's and was owner/operator of the Bennett's Roller Rink in Doniphan and Thayer. She was a bus driver for Doniphan R-1 and enjoyed basketball, her granchildren, church, dominos, and fishing. On July 29, 1936 she was married to Herb Bennett in Alton. He preceded her in death on December 24, 1982. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Jesse Tomkins and Rosa Franklin (Henderson) Hyde; her brothers and sisters, Florence Miller, Mildred Miller, Jay Hyde and Jack Hyde; one grandson, Jeff Nickel. Surviving are three daughters, Neva Bissette and husband Lewis, and Rosemary Nickel and her late husband Frank, all of Doniphan; and Reva Schwan and husband Mike, of Cincinatti, Ohio; four sisters, Edna Sorrells of Newton, KS; Betty Hyatt of Pocahontas, AR; Rowena Cato of Chicago, IL; and Glenna Hastings of Mathis, TX; one brother, Gaston Hyde of Poplar Bluff, MO; four grandchildren, Gena Farrin of Pocahontas, AR; Butch Bissette and Denise Young of Doniphan; and Joe Bissette of Poplar Bluff; one granddaughter-in-law, Kelly Nickel of Jackson, TN; 14 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren Visitation will begin at noon on Sunday, January 21, 2007 at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2 P.M. with the Dr. George Miller and Joe Bissette officiating. Burial will be in the Doniphan Cemetery.