Bessie Lee Goforth Kirkwood, beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, age 89, of Whitefish Bay, WI, formerly of Glen Burnie, MD, died peacefully in her sleep on December 9, 2015, at Horizon Hospice in Mequon, WI. Born June 8, 1926 in Wentzville, MO, she is predeceased by her parents, the late Harold Franklin (H.F.) and Maryelder Goforth of Richland, MO, her husband of 49 years, the late Charles E. Kirkwood of Princeton, New Jersey and her son, the late Charles Chris Kirkwood of San Francisco, CA. Bessie and her husband Charles were both graduates of Iberia Junior College.

Bessie was ahead of her time, working outside of the home in the 1940s and 1950s while raising her family in positions that included being the switchboard supervisor at Fort Leonard Wood, MO during World War II. She was also a homemaker who moved with her husband as his career warranted, settling herself, her husband and her children in Missouri, Illinois, Connecticut, Puerto Rico, Indiana, South Carolina, Mississippi and New Jersey during their life together. Bessie was a genuinely sweet, optimistic, outgoing person who absolutely delighted in being with her children, grandchildren and new great grandchild. Bessie especially enjoyed trips to Manhattan with her husband and family to see Broadway shows and took great pleasure in participating in the Times Square New Year's Eve Celebration in 1989. Bessie's writing abilities were outstanding, inherited from her father, H.F. Goforth, the former editor of the Richland Mirror. An avid animal lover, Bessie had many dogs throughout her life, including her beloved miniature pinscher Doby and toy poodle Andre.

Bessie's devoted survivors include: her son, Ronn B. Kirkwood of Whitefish Bay, WI; her daughter, Frankee Lee Kirkwood Trombley of Arnold, MD; her granddaughters Eleanor Kirkwood and Margaret Kirkwood of Whitefish Bay, WI and Elda Lee Trombley of Arnold MD; her grandson, Kirk Trombley of Arnold MD; her great grandson, River Simon Harnden of Whitefish Bay, WI; her niece, Lynn Goforth Smith of Kansas City, MO; her brother, Reid Goforth of Port Republic, MD; her aunt, Hellen Goforth Sanderson of Kansas City, MO; her cousin James Jon Sanderson of Barrington, RI; and other caring relatives throughout the United States.


Visitation will be from 12 (noon) until 1 p.m., with services immediately following at 1 p.m., on Sunday, December 13, 2015, at Fancher-Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia. Bro. Brian Duncan will officiate. Interment will be in Brays Cemetery near Iberia.