Bessie Mae Hall

Throughout her entire life, a passion for music and Christ-like love for others, especially her family, defined Bessie Mae. Regardless of life’s highs and lows, she sought to enrich the lives around her with her musical talents, contagious sense of humor, and ability to connect with those she encountered.

Bessie Mae (Wilson) Hall went to her heavenly home on May 9, 2024, in Port Orchard, Washington with her granddaughter, Diana (and husband Ryan) and great-granddaughter Haley by her side.

She was born in Canon City, Colorado on October 8, 1935, to Russell and Edie Mae Wilson. Bessie Mae, the second of three children, was raised on the family farm where she discovered the joys of a humble life. A favorite memory frequently shared was milking the cows with her daddy.

 Bessie Mae graduated from Canon City High School in 1953. She met Edwin Hall while he was briefly posted at Camp Carson, who she would later marry on October 11, 1953. (They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in October of 2023.) Following the purchase of 10 acres of farmland from her parents, they formed 3,000 adobe bricks and built their family home in which they lived for the next 50 years.

Edwin and Bessie Mae were delighted by the birth of their beautiful daughter Debbie in 1955 and again in 1962 when they completed their family by bringing home their precious adopted son Nathan. Through Debbie, she became grandmother to Diana, Bradley, and Kristen.     

Understanding that an instrumental talent had been gifted to her, she endeavored to offer herself as both an organist and a pianist for her church families, senior care facilities, and provided piano lessons to numerous students. Bessie Mae practiced horticulture, food preservation, and kept the birds, bunnies, and her brood well fed.

Bessie Mae was a member of the 4 Mile Community Club which met in the same single room school where she attended elementary and Jr. High school. Years were poured into the research and assembly of family genealogy books dating back to the early 1600’s. Treasure hunting at garage sales, picnicking, camping, and Sunday drives were all pastimes that brought her joy.

With her bright, delightfully sassy, and social nature, Bessie Mae leaves behind a legacy rich with her moral compass, love for connecting with others, and fostering a biblical worldview. Bessie Mae’s ability to make much out of little allowed her to equip generations of her family to lead lives of joy and fulfillment through the balance of hard work, entertainment, frugality and frill.

Bessie Mae was preceded in death by both her parents, Edwin (husband), Deborah (daughter), and Paislee (granddaughter).  She is survived by Irene Kinney and Jeanette MacGregor (sisters) Nathan Hall (son), Diana, Bradley, Kristen (grandchildren), Haley, Joshua, Noelle, Gabriel, Azaiah, Caleb, and Sarai (great-grandchildren).

The Holt Family Funeral Home (806 Macon Ave.) will host a memorial service on May 17, 2024, at 10 AM. A graveside service will follow at Mountain Vale Memorial Park. At 1 PM, a reception will begin at the home of John Miller (3252 Chaparral Rd).

In lieu of flowers, please honor Bessie Mae with your contribution to support the ministry of the Sangre de Cristo Seminary, 6160 County Rd. 130 Westcliffe, CO 81252, or online at sdcseminary.org/giving.

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