Bessalea (Clingingsmith) McGhee

of Kennett, MO was born on August 24, 1925, into the family of William Henry Clingingsmith and Alice Catherine (Mills) Clingingsmith and passed away at the age of 95 due to complications from Covid on November 20, 2020, while a resident of Heritage Skilled Nursing Center.

Bessalea was a pianist, an avid reader of murder mysteries and the Bible, an accurate and fast typist who worked in Civil Service in the messaging unit of the FBI and as a medical records transcriptionist at Blytheville SAC Air Force Base and in the private sector at Twin Rivers hospital, and a skilled seamstress who made many of her own clothes and the carhop uniforms and change pouches used at the family-owned-and-operated McGhee's Drive In restaurant.

On August 6, 1952, Bessalea married her beloved Joe Reed McGhee in San Diego, CA while he was serving in the United States Navy.

Bessalea was a longtime member of First Baptist Church where she made sure that her family attended Sunday School, worship services, and such other activities as Vacation Bible School.

Preceded in death by her parents, spouse, and stepson Joe David McGhee, Bessalea is survived by her children, Robert Lee McGhee and spouse Kim of Versailles, MO, William Albert McGhee and spouse Pamela of Jackson, MO, and James Reed McGhee and spouse Debbie of Kennett; siblings Bill Clingingsmith of Lompoc, CA and John Keith Clingingsmith and spouse Darcia of Winnipeg, Canada; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Interment was at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Kennett.  A memorial service will be held at a later date after the Covid pandemic subsides and the weather gets warmer.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that everyone wear masks when in public, use hand sanitizer, and practice social distancing.