William Henri "Bill" Bessire's Obituary
William Henri “Bill” Bessire, 67, died at his home in Memphis, TN, on October 13, 2010, following a courageous battle with cancer. Bill was born in Memphis, TN, on June 25, 1943. He was the second son of the late Madeline Schott Bessire and Robert Alceid Bessire. He was preceded in death by his older brother, Robert P. Bessire. He is survived by his wife of forty-one years, Bobbie Morrow Bessire, and their two daughters, Madeleine Morrow Bessire of Big Sky, MT, and Channing Marie Bessire of Nashville, TN. Bill attended East High School from kindergarten through twelfth grade. He graduated in 1961 and was a member of the All Memphis Basketball team that year. He went to Vanderbilt University where he played freshman basketball. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and was voted Best Overall Intramural Athlete his junior and senior years. He graduated from Vanderbilt in 1965. Bill stayed in Nashville after graduation working for the Vanderbilt Endowment Office. His heart and family led him back to Memphis where he married Bobbie Lynn Morrow on January, 11 1969. Bill worked for E.F. Hutton for 11 years, and for the past 22 years, he has worked as a partner with Consulting Services Group where he also served as President of Trading Services Group. Bill was the big guy. He was six feet four inches tall, wore his blond hair in a mowed crew cut in his earlier years, and had wild blue eyes, one with a speck of brown and blue in it. His imposing stature and competitive athletic ability belied the sweet and loving nature beneath. He made lifelong friends wherever he went, from his days at East High and Vanderbilt, his tennis and handball partners at the University Club, his “family” from the Pickwick cabin, his neighbors on McLean, Whitehall and Perkins. He was an avid reader and never stopped learning about travel, history, art, food and wine. Bill had the courage of his convictions and this took a lot of courage because he had many. He would not give up easily on a debate. He gave this same support and energy to his church and his community. Bill was President of Grace St. Lukes School Board, a warden of the Church, and later a member of Independent Presbyterian Church. He was also a Les Passees Board member. Bill was most involved with The 100 Club of Memphis, an organization which supports the families of fallen firemen and policemen; he served as president of this organization until recently. He said they were our “everyday heroes.” Bill’s girls were his life. Traveling with Bobbie, fishing with Morri in Montana, celebrating in the Grove with Channing- these were his happiest times, even more than the sports and games he loved to watch and play. His girls and his faith were what he believed in most.There will be a visitation in the Rotunda of Independent Presbyterian Church, 2-4 pm Friday, October 15, 2010. The Funeral Service will be held at Independent Presbyterian Church, 10 am Saturday, October 16, 2010. The family respectfully requests that memorials be sent to: Independent Presbyterian Church, 4738 Walnut Grove, Memphis, TN 38117 The 100 Club, PO Box 770726, Memphis, TN 38177 Crossroads Hospice of Tennessee, 5909 Shelby Oaks Drive, Memphis, TN 38134
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