Kitty Wiss

KITTY BESS HALL WISS

Kitty Bess Hall Wiss, age 95, passed away in Altamonte Springs, Florida, on January 2, 2012. Kitty Bess was born at home to Baxter H. and Mrytle Lou Adams Hall on November 16, 1916 in Clarence, Missouri. She was a teacher at Martin Rural School in Shelby County, Missouri, from 1934-1937 and attended Culver Stockton College during the summers. Mrs. Wiss worked at Kirksville, Missouri, ASCS for one year. In 1938 she moved to Kahoka, Missouri, where she was a Civil Service employee with the Farm Security Administration.

Kitty Bess married Joseph A. Wiss on April 13, 1941. During World War II, Kitty Bess and Joe moved to New Orleans where Joe was stationed in the Navy. Kitty Bess worked for the Weather Bureau and the Navy Department until 1945. They had two daughters, Kitty Jo Gates and Rebecca Louise Nickol, both of Orlando, Florida. Kitty Bess and Joe celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1991.

Kitty Bess was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph, on September 1, 1998, as well as her parents and two sisters, Laura Lou Hall and Maxie Mae Delaney. She is survived by her sister Dorothy Sue Strickler (husband Paul), daughters Kitty Jo and Becky (husband Robert), three grandchildren, Christopher William Gates (wife Melanie), Ashley Jo Gates Pederson (husband David) and Alexander Robert Nickol. Kitty Bess also had two great grandchildren, Christopher Joseph and Colby Matthew Gates, and many surviving nieces and nephews.

Mr. and Mrs. Wiss owned Green Valley Seed Company for many years where Kitty Bess served as a bookkeeper. She was a member of a Kahoka bridge club, a founding member of the Tuesday Club, and a member of St. Michael's Altar Society. After her marriage, Kitty Bess became an active member of St. Michael's Catholic Church.

Kitty Bess moved to Maitland, Florida in 2002 to be near her daughters. However, she never forgot her loyal and loving friends in Kahoka. Her greatest joy was making her annual pilgrimage back to Kahoka to see dear friends, eat some Missouri corn, and soak up the Midwestern goodness that was so important to her. She had a wonderful life in sunny Florida, but Kahoka was the real home of her heart.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Kahoka, MO, with burial following in the Kahoka Cemetery.

Friends may call at Wilson Funeral Home after noon on Monday, January 9, 2012, with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. and a Prayer Service being held at 7 p.m. Monday.

Memorials are suggested to the Clark Co. Food Pantry or the H. E. Sever Memorial Library.