Bessie Lorraine Woods Autrey passed away August 19, 2011, with her family by her side. She was born November 10, 1926 in Kern County, California to Joe and Della Cowan Woods and was 84 years young. She graduated from Clovis High School, Clovis, California and married Vernon C. Autrey on March 23, 1945 in Clovis. After his return from military service, they moved to his home state of Texas and lived in Houston, Navasota, Caldwell, Washington-on-the-Brazos, and for the last 40 plus years in Washington County.
Bessie was a long-time member of the Assemblies of God Churches having taught Sunday school in Clovis and Second Creek, and was one of the last surviving member of the Second Creek Assembly of God Church at Second Creek. In the last few years she had attended television church 2, 3, 4 times on Sunday with Rev. Joel Osteen. When the Brenham State School opened in Brenham, Texas, she went to work for them and became a cottage mom. All holidays were special family times for Bessie. However, Christmas was her favorite and oftentimes included residents of the State school who did not have family. Bessie was not a woman of means but she ensured they got what they had on their Christmas list. She retired from the State School in 1989. Bessie loved crocheting, traveling, making cards, scrapbooking her picture memories, reading, listening to "old time" gospel music and spending time with her family and friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Joe and Della Cowan Woods; her husband, Vernon C. Autrey, Sr.; a brother, Jack Richard Woods; and two sisters, Mary Crawford and Roberta Bouton and granddaughter Kym Parker Ray.
Surviving are her nine children, Ellanora "Ellie" Autrey her daughter, best friend and caregiver who lived with her; Novella Autrey Hronek and husband, Kenneth; Joe Autrey and wife Terri; Carol Autrey Watson and husband Freddie Watson; Geraldine Autrey Ray and husband Jerry of Caldwell; Larry Autrey and special friend Judy Steinfeld; Jeff Autrey; Barbara Autrey Lehmann and special friend Michael Schulz and Vernon "V.C." Autrey, Jr. and wife Roxanne. Her twin brother Jessie Woods and wife Roxie; brothers Clarence Woods and wife Lorene Woods; and Lloyd Woods and wife, Janice; and sister Gladys Hulse also survive her.
She is also survived by her grandchildren Kenneth Hronek, J. and wife Sarah; Tanise Hronek Faust and husband Dwayne, Jason Hronek; Vanessa Autrey Dickinson and husband Josh; Kristin Autrey Sowders and husband Matt; Joseph Autrey; Jerry Ray and wife Brittany, and Matthew Ray and wife Tamra; Nicholas Lehmann; Tabatha Lehmann Diehl and husband Michael; Deana Boucher and Jody Rodriquez; great-grandchildren, April Hronek and fiancée Bryan Glidewell, Shelby and Jason Hronek, Will and Emerson Faust, John and Casey Dickinson, Elora Sowders, Aden Diehl, Dylan and Ethan Ray, Cory and Drew Rodriquez and special "adopted" children Tonya and Brittany Laird, and Cheryl, Pete, Michael and Gabriel Munoz and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be from 6-8 pm, Sunday, August 21 with funeral service at 4 pm Monday, August 22 at Brenham Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in Independence Cemetery, Independence, TX.
Memorials may be given to Camp Funshine, Inc., P. O. Box 576, Pea Ridge, AR 72751, a Texas Cystic Fibrosis Camp for children in Texas.
Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX. 979.836.3611 or visit www.brenham-memorial-chapel.com
Bessie was a long-time member of the Assemblies of God Churches having taught Sunday school in Clovis and Second Creek, and was one of the last surviving member of the Second Creek Assembly of God Church at Second Creek. In the last few years she had attended television church 2, 3, 4 times on Sunday with Rev. Joel Osteen. When the Brenham State School opened in Brenham, Texas, she went to work for them and became a cottage mom. All holidays were special family times for Bessie. However, Christmas was her favorite and oftentimes included residents of the State school who did not have family. Bessie was not a woman of means but she ensured they got what they had on their Christmas list. She retired from the State School in 1989. Bessie loved crocheting, traveling, making cards, scrapbooking her picture memories, reading, listening to "old time" gospel music and spending time with her family and friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Joe and Della Cowan Woods; her husband, Vernon C. Autrey, Sr.; a brother, Jack Richard Woods; and two sisters, Mary Crawford and Roberta Bouton and granddaughter Kym Parker Ray.
Surviving are her nine children, Ellanora "Ellie" Autrey her daughter, best friend and caregiver who lived with her; Novella Autrey Hronek and husband, Kenneth; Joe Autrey and wife Terri; Carol Autrey Watson and husband Freddie Watson; Geraldine Autrey Ray and husband Jerry of Caldwell; Larry Autrey and special friend Judy Steinfeld; Jeff Autrey; Barbara Autrey Lehmann and special friend Michael Schulz and Vernon "V.C." Autrey, Jr. and wife Roxanne. Her twin brother Jessie Woods and wife Roxie; brothers Clarence Woods and wife Lorene Woods; and Lloyd Woods and wife, Janice; and sister Gladys Hulse also survive her.
She is also survived by her grandchildren Kenneth Hronek, J. and wife Sarah; Tanise Hronek Faust and husband Dwayne, Jason Hronek; Vanessa Autrey Dickinson and husband Josh; Kristin Autrey Sowders and husband Matt; Joseph Autrey; Jerry Ray and wife Brittany, and Matthew Ray and wife Tamra; Nicholas Lehmann; Tabatha Lehmann Diehl and husband Michael; Deana Boucher and Jody Rodriquez; great-grandchildren, April Hronek and fiancée Bryan Glidewell, Shelby and Jason Hronek, Will and Emerson Faust, John and Casey Dickinson, Elora Sowders, Aden Diehl, Dylan and Ethan Ray, Cory and Drew Rodriquez and special "adopted" children Tonya and Brittany Laird, and Cheryl, Pete, Michael and Gabriel Munoz and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be from 6-8 pm, Sunday, August 21 with funeral service at 4 pm Monday, August 22 at Brenham Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in Independence Cemetery, Independence, TX.
Memorials may be given to Camp Funshine, Inc., P. O. Box 576, Pea Ridge, AR 72751, a Texas Cystic Fibrosis Camp for children in Texas.
Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX. 979.836.3611 or visit www.brenham-memorial-chapel.com
Bessie Lorraine Woods Autrey passed away August 19, 2011, with her family by her side. She was born November 10, 1926 in Kern County, California to Joe and Della Cowan Woods and was 84 years young. She graduated from Clovis High School, Clovis, California and married Vernon C. Autrey on March 23, 1945 in Clovis. After his return from military service, they moved to his home state of Texas and lived in Houston, Navasota, Caldwell, Washington-on-the-Brazos, and for the last 40 plus years in Washington County.
Bessie was a long-time member of the Assemblies of God Churches having taught Sunday school in Clovis and Second Creek, and was one of the last surviving member of the Second Creek Assembly of God Church at Second Creek. In the last few years she had attended television church 2, 3, 4 times on Sunday with Rev. Joel Osteen. When the Brenham State School opened in Brenham, Texas, she went to work for them and became a cottage mom. All holidays were special family times for Bessie. However, Christmas was her favorite and oftentimes included residents of the State school who did not have family. Bessie was not a woman of means but she ensured they got what they had on their Christmas list. She retired from the State School in 1989. Bessie loved crocheting, traveling, making cards, scrapbooking her picture memories, reading, listening to "old time" gospel music and spending time with her family and friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Joe and Della Cowan Woods; her husband, Vernon C. Autrey, Sr.; a brother, Jack Richard Woods; and two sisters, Mary Crawford and Roberta Bouton and granddaughter Kym Parker Ray.
Surviving are her nine children, Ellanora "Ellie" Autrey her daughter, best friend and caregiver who lived with her; Novella Autrey Hronek and husband, Kenneth; Joe Autrey and wife Terri; Carol Autrey Watson and husband Freddie Watson; Geraldine Autrey Ray and husband Jerry of Caldwell; Larry Autrey and special friend Judy Steinfeld; Jeff Autrey; Barbara Autrey Lehmann and special friend Michael Schulz and Vernon "V.C." Autrey, Jr. and wife Roxanne. Her twin brother Jessie Woods and wife Roxie; brothers Clarence Woods and wife Lorene Woods; and Lloyd Woods and wife, Janice; and sister Gladys Hulse also survive her.
She is also survived by her grandchildren Kenneth Hronek, J. and wife Sarah; Tanise Hronek Faust and husband Dwayne, Jason Hronek; Vanessa Autrey Dickinson and husband Josh; Kristin Autrey Sowders and husband Matt; Joseph Autrey; Jerry Ray and wife Brittany, and Matthew Ray and wife Tamra; Nicholas Lehmann; Tabatha Lehmann Diehl and husband Michael; Deana Boucher and Jody Rodriquez; great-grandchildren, April Hronek and fiancée Bryan Glidewell, Shelby and Jason Hronek, Will and Emerson Faust, John and Casey Dickinson, Elora Sowders, Aden Diehl, Dylan and Ethan Ray, Cory and Drew Rodriquez and special "adopted" children Tonya and Brittany Laird, and Cheryl, Pete, Michael and Gabriel Munoz and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be from 6-8 pm, Sunday, August 21 with funeral service at 4 pm Monday, August 22 at Brenham Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in Independence Cemetery, Independence, TX.
Memorials may be given to Camp Funshine, Inc., P. O. Box 576, Pea Ridge, AR 72751, a Texas Cystic Fibrosis Camp for children in Texas.
Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX. 979.836.3611 or visit www.brenham-memorial-chapel.com
Bessie was a long-time member of the Assemblies of God Churches having taught Sunday school in Clovis and Second Creek, and was one of the last surviving member of the Second Creek Assembly of God Church at Second Creek. In the last few years she had attended television church 2, 3, 4 times on Sunday with Rev. Joel Osteen. When the Brenham State School opened in Brenham, Texas, she went to work for them and became a cottage mom. All holidays were special family times for Bessie. However, Christmas was her favorite and oftentimes included residents of the State school who did not have family. Bessie was not a woman of means but she ensured they got what they had on their Christmas list. She retired from the State School in 1989. Bessie loved crocheting, traveling, making cards, scrapbooking her picture memories, reading, listening to "old time" gospel music and spending time with her family and friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Joe and Della Cowan Woods; her husband, Vernon C. Autrey, Sr.; a brother, Jack Richard Woods; and two sisters, Mary Crawford and Roberta Bouton and granddaughter Kym Parker Ray.
Surviving are her nine children, Ellanora "Ellie" Autrey her daughter, best friend and caregiver who lived with her; Novella Autrey Hronek and husband, Kenneth; Joe Autrey and wife Terri; Carol Autrey Watson and husband Freddie Watson; Geraldine Autrey Ray and husband Jerry of Caldwell; Larry Autrey and special friend Judy Steinfeld; Jeff Autrey; Barbara Autrey Lehmann and special friend Michael Schulz and Vernon "V.C." Autrey, Jr. and wife Roxanne. Her twin brother Jessie Woods and wife Roxie; brothers Clarence Woods and wife Lorene Woods; and Lloyd Woods and wife, Janice; and sister Gladys Hulse also survive her.
She is also survived by her grandchildren Kenneth Hronek, J. and wife Sarah; Tanise Hronek Faust and husband Dwayne, Jason Hronek; Vanessa Autrey Dickinson and husband Josh; Kristin Autrey Sowders and husband Matt; Joseph Autrey; Jerry Ray and wife Brittany, and Matthew Ray and wife Tamra; Nicholas Lehmann; Tabatha Lehmann Diehl and husband Michael; Deana Boucher and Jody Rodriquez; great-grandchildren, April Hronek and fiancée Bryan Glidewell, Shelby and Jason Hronek, Will and Emerson Faust, John and Casey Dickinson, Elora Sowders, Aden Diehl, Dylan and Ethan Ray, Cory and Drew Rodriquez and special "adopted" children Tonya and Brittany Laird, and Cheryl, Pete, Michael and Gabriel Munoz and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be from 6-8 pm, Sunday, August 21 with funeral service at 4 pm Monday, August 22 at Brenham Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in Independence Cemetery, Independence, TX.
Memorials may be given to Camp Funshine, Inc., P. O. Box 576, Pea Ridge, AR 72751, a Texas Cystic Fibrosis Camp for children in Texas.
Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX. 979.836.3611 or visit www.brenham-memorial-chapel.com
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