James Jim Albert Bessee Obituary

Description: James "Jim" Albert Bessee Obituary... Our Heartfelt Condolences To His Loved Ones...

James "Jim" Albert Bessee

April 10, 1937 ~ November 2, 2025 (age 88)

Obituary

James Albert Bessee, born Bryan Allyn Stone, arrived in this world on April 10, 1937. He was adopted at the age of 8 after living in multiple state homes and foster homes, and was welcomed by Grace Dorrance Bessee and Charles Webster Bessee. Grace was the perfect counter-point for an angry child, and taught him patience and compassion. Jim often told stories of riding his horse three miles to school at College High in Greeley. He was drafted into the Army at the end of the Korean War, serving at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri, and then in Germany, where a chaplain took him under his wing and helped temper the anger. Upon his return, he married Joanne and they had one son, Robert, who was later adopted by Joanne’s second husband.

Jim returned to the University of Colorado on the GI bill where he attempted to remain a lifelong student, changing disciplines annually so he remained for 10 years until they awarded him a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science against his will (he preferred International Relations, but did not complete the language requirement). During that time, he married Mary Sarah Topcziewski and they had three children, Donald James, Lara Lorraine, and Bryan Allyn. The children were known to attend classes with him. This was the turbulent 60s and Jim was very active on-campus as the assistant to the Chancellor, and helped professionalize the University Memorial Center’s services. He was also an active student demonstrator against the Vietnam War, and actively campaigned for Barry Goldwater’s presidential campaign. 

Upon the dissolution of that marriage, Jim became a hermit in Ward, Colorado, where he also served as an early Mayor of the town. He met his lifelong companion, Burry Elizabeth Fendel, in January 1977, and they were married in December 1978. Jim and Burry had three children together, Jaime Morgan, Sally Drake, and Elizabeth Grace (stillborn), and remained together through his death. Jim loved the mountains and living in Colorado, but was willing to relocate continually when Burry became a minister, after which they lived all around the Eastern Plains of Colorado and northern Wyoming.

Family and friends were at the center of his life; he never met a stranger, and loved nothing more than to put a smile on someone’s face. Jim’s thirst for knowledge and personal growth was lifelong. You could generally find him with his nose in a book, be it (science) fiction, self-help, or any number of religious and health topics. His goal in his later years was to help people recognize that us/them antagonism is not productive; we are all part of a loving God. 

Jim died surrounded by his loved ones, and is survived by his spouse, spouse in sequence, children and their families, including a plethora of grandchildren and great-grands. He was pre-deceased by his elder family, along with his son-in-law, Robert Steven Downey, and grandson, John Michael Berry.  He lived a full and fulfilling life and will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging donations to Prairie Family Center food bank, 1040 Rose Avenue, Burlington, CO 80807 - https://www.prairiefamilycenter.com. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 15 at 11am at Burlington United Methodist Church and all are welcome to attend.  The service will be broadcast on the church’s Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person.

Brown Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.

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