Bessie Mae Byrd Penn

Bessie Mae Byrd Penn, 97, passed away on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at her home. Bess was born on March 9, 1914 to Issac Wilburn Byrd and Evie Mae Byrd in Easterly Texas. Her father served in the Perrin�s Battalion, State Calvary Mississippi Confederate States Army during the Civil War and her mother was the last known living widow of a Civil War Veteran when she died in September of 1979. Bess graduated from High School in Franklin Texas and shortly thereafter moved to Houston to work at the WPA during the depression. Later, she worked at a furniture store for many years where she was assigned to re-upholster furniture. Bess worked hard, even selling Avon in order to save money to open her own business. In the early 1950�s, Bess opened her first retail business in Greens Bayou. She went on to later acquire her second business before retiring to Lake Conroe. Upon retiring, Bess spent her days fishing, camping, sewing, gardening and visiting with neighbors at garage sales. She loved to spend time with her children, friends and family. On August 12, 1990 Bess made a public profession of faith and was baptized at Mims Baptist Church by Bro. Gene Kendrick.Bess was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Penn; son, Paul LaVon Baumert; and brothers, Wilburn (Bub) Byrd, Calvin Byrd and Sam Byrd.Bess is survived by her daughter, Gwendolyn Smith and husband Robert Lee (Bob) Smith; brother, John Wylie Byrd and wife Peggy; and grandchildren, Pat Smith, Johnny Smith, Mona Smith Finch, Melonie Harrell and husband Mark, Betsy Martinez and husband Bob, Paul Baumert (deceased) and wife Dianne, Cindy Ivy and husband Steve, Steve Snow and wife Debbie, Patricia Deal and husband Steve, Karl Baumert and wife Debra. She had 26 great grandchildren including two special granddaughters, Monica Chapman and Tara Harrell, one "adopted" granddaughter, Penny Glasco, and 16 great-great grandchildren. The family would like to acknowledge Bess�s loving caregiver, Barbara Moulder, who spent many years loving our "Mammie", along with the nurses of Lighthouse Hospice.