Feb. 2, 1927 — Oct. 28, 2014

Bessie M. (Thomas) Barrett, 87, of Niles, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014, with her loving family at her side.

She was born on Feb. 27, 1927, in Rochester, Indiana to the late Harold L. and Eva L. (Johnson) Thomas.

On June 9, 1949, Bessie married Elmer Schacks, Sr. who passed away two years later. On May 12, 1956, she wed Howard Barrett, Sr. at a ceremony in Dowagiac.

Bessie was employed for more than 40 years at Simplicity Pattern, where she worked as a folder. She enjoyed puzzles, gardening, canning and was an amazing cook. Family was the most important thing in Bessie’s life and she loved spending time with them.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands Elmer Schacks, Sr. in 1951 and Howard Barrett, Sr. in 1981; a son, Howard Barrett, Jr. in 1997 and four brothers, Major, David, Clarence and Fred Thomas.

Bessie is survived by her children, Carol (Victor) Wenzloff of Traverse City, Michigan, Elmer (Bonnie) Schacks, Jr. of Edwardsburg and Mark (Catherine) Barrett of Dowagiac; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one brother, Gerald (Beverly) Thomas and five sisters, Margaret Hoese of Niles, Mary Welch of Niles, Eva (George) Hunt of Niles, Charlotte Beecher of Merritt Island, Florida and Dorothy Kiggins of Dowagiac.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, at noon at Mission Hills with a time of visitation beginning at 11 a.m. An interment will follow at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made in Bessie’s memory to Hospice.

Those wishing to leave a message for the family, upload a photo of Bessie or send their condolences may do so at our website at

www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.