Bessie Grace

Bessie Lopeman Newman Grace was born to Virgil F. and Cleo Cox Lopeman on November 19, 1935 in Ponca City, OK. At the age of 9 months she moved with her family to Tonkawa, OK. She attended Tonkawa schools and graduated from Tonkawa High School in 1953. Following her graduation she went to work for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as an operator.
She married Buddy D. Newman on December 21, 1956 at The First Christian Church in Ponca City, OK following Mr. Newmans graduation from Oklahoma State University. In 1958 the couple moved to Englewood, Colorado where they both worked for the Martin Marietta Corp. They returned to Ponca City, OK in 1966 where Mrs. Newman worked for the S.W. Bell Telephone Co. and Conoco as a telephone operator. She later opened her own beauty shop and practiced cosmetology for a number of years. She later joined Frontier Federal S L as a Financial Counselor. She retired from Interwest Mortgage Co as customer service supervisor. Mr. Newman died February 11, 1989.
Bessie married her best friend Leon Grace on October 26, 1996. Bess was a member of the Woodlands Christian Church in Ponca City, American Legion Auxiliary and Moose Auxiliary. She enjoyed her family and loved spending time with her daughters. She also enjoyed dancing, reading, playing cards, dominos and traveling. She loved going on cruises.
She is survived by her husband Leon Grace of the home, two daughters, Pamela D. West and husband Rusty of Fate TX, Bethany D. Fredricks and husband Brian, one sister, Mary Goldsmith, two step daughters, LeAwna Fitzgerald and husband Steve, Nancy Bricker and husband Kirby all of Ponca City. One grandson Brian L. Fredricks Jr., two step grandsons, Chance Hunt and wife Mandy, Joe Fitzgerald and one great grandson Lennox Reid Hunt all of Ponca City.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Bud Newman, one daughter Machell Newman, her parents and four brothers Raymond, George, Joe and Johnnie Lopeman.
Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 21, 2014 at Grace Memorial Chapel with Rev. Dennis Wildman officiating. Burial will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery of Tonkawa, OK. Casket Bearers are Steve Fitzgerald, Rusty West, Brian Fredricks, Kirby Bricker and Chance Hunt
Honorary Casket Bearers will be Brian Fredricks Jr., Joe Fitzgerald and Jack Mercer.

Memorial contributions may be made to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th, OKC, OK 73104.

Service

Funeral Service

Grace Memorial Chapel
2016 N. 14th
Ponca City, OK  74601
Friday, November 21, 2014
2:00 p.m.

Funeral Service

Grace Memorial Chapel
2016 N. 14th
Ponca City, OK  74601
Friday, November 21, 2014
2:00 p.m.