Bessie Turner Stockton was born on February 3, 1926, in the Eadsville Community of Wayne County and departed this life on Friday, January 22, 2016, at the Pickett County Care and Rehab Center in Byrdstown, Tennessee, having reached the age of 89 years.

Bessie was the youngest child of the late Obie Turner and Myrtle McCutchen Turner.

She graduated from Wayne County High School on April 7, 1944 and moved to New Castle, Indiana to work at a factory that made fuel tanks for airplanes that were used during World War II. She returned to Monticello and on May 31, 1946, united in marriage to Russell Stockton. Bessie and Russell were married for 50 years until Russell's death on September 4, 1995. One son, Doug Stockton, was born to this union. In July of 2000, Bessie united in marriage to Guy Decker who predeceased her on November 20, 2013.

Bessie enjoyed working and meeting new people. During her lifetime, she was employed at Cumberland Dairy, Monticello Shirt Factory, Begley Drug, Kennedy's Clothing Store and Wal-Mart Stores. Bessie worked at Wal-Mart for 22 years until declining health forced her retirement in March of 2010 at the age of 84 years.

Survivors include her son, Doug (Donna) Stockton, two grandsons, Greg Stockton and Jason (Christy) Stockton, one great granddaughter, Cassie Stockton and one great grandson, Kason Stockton, all of Monticello. Also surviving is one step-son, Guy Decker, Jr. of San Francisco, CA and two step-daughters, Margaret Dale of Miami, FL and Anna Ruth Kennedy of Albany, KY.

Bessie leaves a host of nieces and nephews and many good friends who will mourn her passing.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 after 5pm in the chapel of the funeral home. Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 1pm at the Hicks-Vaughn Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in the Elk Spring Cemetery.