Bessie Ruth Chappell

Graveside services for Bessie Ruth Chappell, 95, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Cureall Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. 

Ms. Chappell passed away Monday, August 11, 2025, at West Vue Nursing Center.

She was born January 26, 1930, at Cureall, Missouri, to Walter Jackson Chappell and Bertha Houser (Cook) Chappell.  Ms. Chappell’s mother died when she was 18 months old.  Her uncle and aunt, Bill and Vira Chappell moved in to help her father with four children until their death.  Aunt Vira taught the girls to cook, clean, raise a garden and can.  After her death the three girls had to do these things on their own with the oldest girl being only 12 years old.  Bessie graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1949 and went on to graduate from Draughn’s Business School, Springfield, Missouri.  After moving to Kansas City, she attended Rock Hurst College.  Ms. Chappell was a personnel secretary for various companies in Kansas City, Missouri.  After her retirement, she became bored and started a second career as a checker at Wal-Mart.  After returning to West Plains, she continued her work at Wal-Mart until she was nearly eighty years old.  Ms. Chappell was a member of First Baptist Church.

She is survived by three nieces, Connie Davidson and husband, Jim, West Plains, Carolyn Warden and husband, Larry, Ferguson, Missouri and Linda DeVaul, West Plains; and many great-nieces and great-nephews. 

Her parents, two sisters and one brother, Lee R. Cook and wife, Lorene, Ruby Baxter and husband, Hobert and Opal Collins and husband, Floyd, two nieces and one nephew, Gary Collins, Cathy Hawkins and Betty Sue Cook, preceded her in death.  

Memorial contributions may be made to Cureall Cemetery, and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 W. Main St., West Plains, Missouri.