Bessie Louise Templeton of Vicksburg, formerly of El Dorado, Kan., died Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at Merit Health Hospital in Vicksburg. She was 106. She would have been 107 next month.

She was born in Sedalia, Ky. to parents Frank Byron Kesterson and Minnie Byrd. After the death of her father, she was raised by her mother and stepfather Lucien Tinsley. She moved to Oklahoma and then lived in and around El Dorado, Kan. for over 80 years before moving to Vicksburg in 2011 to live with her daughter.

Bess was united in marriage to John Templeton on June 1, 1939. They lived on a farm until 1975 when they moved to town. She was a schoolteacher and artist, working with watercolor, oil, china and other mediums. She was active in various civic groups, card groups, and churches and attended church the week before her death.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 66 years; son-in-law, Vernon Plett; and grandson, Tommy Plett.

She is survived by two daughters, Kathryn Kemmerly (Phillip) of Clarksville, Tenn. and Mary Jane Plett of Vicksburg; seven grandchildren, Tim Plett and (Leisa) of Maricopa, Ariz., Tony Plett (Mary) of Orlando, Fla., Todd Kemmerly (Lisa) of Manassas Park, Va., Darin Kemmerly of Clarksville, Tenn., Tammy Ortega (Elued) of Tempe, Ariz., Shelley Plett of Vicksburg, Angela Harding (Bob) of Madison; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one nephew; special friends Lucy Young and Carolyn Parson; and many wonderful friends.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21 at Hawkins United Methodist Church with visitation preceding the service at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hawkins United Methodist Church.