Bessie Mable Rowden, age 83, of Iberia, died Thursday, December 25, 2008, at Woodland Manor in Springfield. She was born in Iberia on January 9, 1925, daughter of George Washington and Mary Etta (Rook) Beal. On July 26, 1942, in Swedeborg, she was married to Willard Jackson Rowden, who preceded her in death on March 4, 2005.

She lived on a dairy farm near Iberia where she worked with her husband. She had also worked for H.D. Lee Manufacturing in Richland, L.B. Manufacturing in Iberia, and as a housekeeper at Holiday Inn in Lake Ozark. She loved making quilts and writing poetry and songs. She also enjoyed cooking large family meals. She was a member of Goodwill Baptist Church near Crocker.

Survivors include four sons, Danny Rowden, Michael Rowden, Johnnie Rowden, and Patrick Rowden all of Iberia; three daughters, Bonnie Plemmons of Iberia, Zonetta Loney of Springfield, and Tina Rowden of Brumley; one brother, Leonard Beal of El Dorado Springs, Kansas; 24 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; one son, George Elmer Rowden; one infant son, Willard Jackson Rowden Jr.; one infant daughter, Deanna June Rowden; and one infant grandson, William Scott Rowden.

Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. on Friday, December 26, at Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia. Services will follow at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Danny Cochran officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Union Cemetery near Brumley.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Diabetes Association.