Bessie ‘Marie’ Anderson Nerel, 72, a former upper Skagit Valley resident, passed away on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at UCI Hospital in Garden Grove, California.
She was born on August 5, 1935 in Meadow Grove, Nebraska, one of eleven children of Roy & Ethel Joy Dickinson.
Her family moved to Washington State in 1936, settling in the upper Skagit Valley.
Bessie was united in marriage to George Victor Anderson on November 2, 1953 and they made their home near Hamilton. Victor was killed in a logging accident in 1965 and shortly after she moved her family to California.
She later married David Nerel and they made their home in Garden Grove.
With David’s job they traveled extensively, living and visiting countries all over the world. David also preceded her in death in 1999.
Bessie is survived by her children, George Wayne Anderson and his wife, Georgie of Lake Forest, California, Rose Marie Young and her husband, Cliff of Las Vegas, Nevada and Lilly Irene White and her husband, Bill of Fairbanks, Alaska; a step-son, Jeff Nerel and his wife, Jackie of Santa Anna, California and a step-daughter, Dorothy Thorte and her husband, Gary of Laguna Niguel, California. Five sisters, Vi Iund, Martha Iund, Eva Hockett, Darlene Schaffer and Willyne Adams; three brothers, Ralph, Dean & George Dickinson; eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her husbands, Victor and David she was also preceded in death by her parents, Roy & Ethel; a sister, Virginia Nieshe and a brother, Clarence Dickinson.
Graveside Inurnment services will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 11:00 AM at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. A fellowship gathering will follow at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Parish hall. Local arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.