Samuel Edward-Thomas Bess Jr.

Samuel Edward Thomas "Butch" Bess, Jr., age 68, Harrodsburg, died Saturday, December 30, 2017 at Ephraim McDowell RMC in Danville. Born July 24, 1949 in Harrodsburg, he was the son of the late Samuel Edward Thomas and the late Willie Francis (Young) Bess, Sr. He attended Harrodsburg Independent Schools, was a horse groomer for the Silver Lining Stables in Danville, the Dick Gray Stables in Harrodsburg, and the late Tom Moore Stables in Harrodsburg where he loved working with a horse by the name of “Criterion”. He enjoyed fishing, watching football and was a member of the St. Peter AME Church in Harrodsburg.

Survivors include: his special companion Dianna Broussard of Harrodsburg; four daughters: Collette Thurman of Danville, Samantha Bartleson of Harrodsburg, Lydia (Robert) Click of Lawrenceburg, and Willa (Anthony) Ford of Danville; three sons, Samuel Edward Thomas (Tracey) Bess III. of Somerset, David Edward Thurman of Danville and Benjamin Noah (Marissa) Ison of Breckenridge, TX; two brothers, James Thomas Bess of Champagne, IL and Timothy Dale (Anne) Bess of Junction City; 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Irene Smith VanDyke.

Funeral services will be conducted 1:00 pm, Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at St. Peter African Methodist Episcopal by Elder J.D. Short III and Brother William Jenkins. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Harrodsburg. Visitation will be Wednesday from 11:00 am until the time of service at the St. Peter AME Church in Harrodsburg.

Pallbearers are: Benny Stokes, Robert Click, Shane Sallee, Kenneth Jones, Don Smith, William Bo Yeast, Larry Andrews and Tim Best, Jr. Honorary bearers are Robert Bradshaw, George Nash, Herbie Medley, John T. Mayes and Steve Smith.

Expressions of sympathy can be sent to the family at www.simsfuneralservices.com.