Carol Emily Bess

Carol (Melix) Bess, 84, of Sandwich, Massachusetts passed away peacefully on April 23, 2022. Born at her beloved family home on Factory Street in Sandwich, Carol was the daughter of the late Leon and Helen (Stets) Melix and a lifelong resident of Sandwich. She fondly recalled childhood memories with her eight siblings swimming at the Sandwich boardwalk, working at Crow Farm, playing games at the local park, ice skating and attending church with her family. Carol was proud to have played on the Sandwich High School girls’ basketball team and to have graduated from Sandwich High School in 1955. In 1956, she married her late husband, Frank C. Bess, and they raised three children, Charles, Joel and Lori. A homemaker, she also worked for a short time at Cape and Vineyard Electric Company as a bookkeeper and at the Sandwich Public Schools as a payroll clerk.

Carol set a beautiful example living as a devoted and loving Christian woman. She loved the outdoors, especially gardening, hiking, kayaking and swimming. She spent countless summer days floating down Mill Creek to and from the Sandwich boardwalk with family and friends. She imparted the joy of simple pleasures in life to her family, from picking wild grapes, blueberries and beach plums, to digging sea clams, enjoying freshly caught crab and lobster, and “treasure hunting” for Sandwich glass, she showed us how to live the truly good life. She particularly enjoyed her hiking trips out West to the National Parks with Frank, which even included white water rafting and a notorious encounter with a bear. We will miss hearing her play the organ and sing along to her favorite hymns, her delicious cinnamon buns during the holidays and most of all her warm, infectious smile.

Carol is survived by her three children, Charles Bess of South Sandwich and his wife Maria Siciliano Bess, Joel Bess of West Barnstable and his wife Katy Murphy Bess, and daughter Lori McCombs of Sandwich and her husband Mark McCombs of Sandwich. She also leaves 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held at the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home located at 154 Route 6A in Sandwich on Friday, May 6th, from 3:00-7:00 p.m., with a service at 6:30 p.m.. A graveside service will be held Saturday, May 7th at 11:00 a.m. at Sandwich Town Cemetery followed by a celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, www.samaritanspurse.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nickersonbournefh.com for the Bess family.