Bessie Mae (Wills) McIntosh

Bessie Mae Wills McIntosh

Bessie Mae Wills McIntosh, almost 92, died Wednesday (Nov. 19, 2008) at Presbyterian Manor in Newton. She was born on Dec. 22, 1916, on the farm in Rice County to William H. and Anna Engelland Wills. She married Daniel Elton McIntosh Jr. on March 24, 1943, at Midland Church in rural Rice County. They were married 59 years and lived in Clay Center during those years, until moving to Newton Presbyterian Manor in 2000. He preceded her in death on March 10, 2001. Bessie Mae was a graduate of Washburn University and of Washburn University Law School in 1940. While attending Washburn, she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C., during World War II as an attorney. After her marriage, she was a full time homemaker. She enjoyed china painting, knitting for her grandchildren, playing golf and playing cards.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Clay Center and a 60-year member of Chapter AS, PEO, in Clay Center. She spent many years involved in the Washburn University Alumni Association. She established the Elton and Bessie Mae McIntosh scholarship at Washburn University.

Bessie Mae and Elton had three daughters: Ann Adrian and husband, Tom, of Newton, Mary Shull and husband, Phil, of Wichita, and Sue Fawcett and husband, Jim, from Junction City. They had one infant son, Daniel Elton McIntosh III, who preceded them in death.

She had six grandchildren: Lisa Adrian McPherson (Boyd) of Wichita, Lori Adrian Magruder (Tom) of Austin, Texas, Melinda Shull Merrill (Mark) of Portland, Ore., Andrew Shull (Danielle) of Portland, Todd Fawcett of Junction City, and Emily Fawcett of Junction City.

She had six great-grandchildren: Hugh McPherson, Baylor McPherson, McIntosh Magruder, Adrian Bae Magruder, Elijah Fawcett and Delaney Fawcett.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Birzer-Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons, with burial at Lyons Cemetery immediately following.

A memorial service will be conducted in Clay Center at a later date, to be announced.

Memorials can be made to Newton Presbyterian Manor, Clay Center Presbyterian Manor, or First Presbyterian Church of Clay Center in care of the funeral home, 214 West Ave. South, P.O. Box 89, Lyons, KS 67554.