Bessie Mae Cohen

Bessie Mae Morrison Cohen, 83, passed away Wednesday March 13, 2013 at her home in Round Rock, Texas after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her beloved sister, Virginia Cage of Floydada, Texas. She is survived by brothers, J.D. Morrison of Fort Worth, Texas and Bill Morrison of Montgomery, Texas; two daughters, Kelly Rivera and Karen Garcia of Round Rock, Texas and son, Maurice Cohen of Austin, Texas, eight grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and numerous loving relatives and friends.

Bessie was born February 15, 1930 in the community of Joe Bailey, just south of current Daugherty, Texas, to Jim and Opal Morrison. After attending the Daugherty School and graduating from Floydada high school in 1947, and working in small local clinics, Bessie went to Dallas to attend nursing school at The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul and graduated in 1956. About that time she met her future husband, Leonard Cohen, who lived in Killeen, Texas. As things worked out favorably, they were married June 9, 1957 and made their home in Killeen, where they raised three adorable children.

After the children were out on their own, Bessie returned to her nursing career at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas and retired in 1993 after 13 years of dedicated nursing. She then moved to Round Rock, Texas to be near her children and grandchildren.

Bessie’s family would like to gratefully acknowledge the superb care and service given to her by the staff of Scott & White hospital in Round Rock, Texas and also the compassionate care given to her by the Scott & White Home Health Care and Hospice staff. Without them we would have been lost.

Family and friends visitation will be held Thursday, evening March 21, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and a memorial service celebrating Bessie’s life will be held on Friday, March 22, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Both events will take place at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, Texas 78750 (512) 335-1155.