Bessie Mae Starks, 81, died Jan. 27, 2009, at Promise Regional Medical Center.
She was born Aug. 8, 1927, in Jay, Okla., the daughter of John and Anna Liza Tosh Morgan.

She graduated from Lindberg High School, Delaware County, Ark. She owned and operated a restaurant and later retired from Cessna.

On Dec. 18, 1947, she married Sherman Gobble, in Bentonville, Ark. He died Aug. 29, 1954. She then married Robert Starks. They later divorced.

Survivors include: a son, Alvin Gobble and wife, Deborah, Hutchinson; three daughters, Wanda Barnes and husband, Dan, Hutchinson, Sharon Munden and husband Eugene, Rogers, Ark., and Debra Gobble, Phoenix; two stepsons, James Gobble, Rogers, Ark., and John Gobble, Flagstaff, Ariz.; two stepdaughters, Betty Ambrosier, Bentonville, Ark., and Flora Mae Clawson, Jenks, Okla.; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by 13 brothers and sisters.

Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Saturday Jan. 31, 2009, at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the chapel. Burial will be in Ruddick Cemetery, Garfield, Ark.

Memorials may be sent to the Good Samaritan Center, in care of the mortuary.