Bessie Huckaby

Bessie Kalna Bourque Huckaby, 67, of Pinehurst, died Monday, August 2, 2010, at her home.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 5, 2010 at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange with the Reverend Jay Thomas, pastor of MacArthur Heights Baptist Church, officiating. An Eastern Star service, under the auspices of Chapter #214, Order of the Eastern Star, will follow.

The interment will be at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.

Visitation will be from 5:00-9:00 p.m., Wednesday at the funeral home.

Born in Long Beach, California, on July 3, 1943, Bessie was the daughter of John Harold and Mardell Willis Kalna. She and her husband, C.J., were the owners and operators of Pinehurst Automotive. Following her retirement as office manager of the automotive shop, she began an eight year career with North Early Learning Center where she was a Developmental Assistant.

Bessie was very active in social and community organizations. She was a member of MacArthur Heights Baptist Church where she had served as Sunday School teacher and was a member of the choir. She was a past president of the Business and Professional Women's Club; member and past Worthy Matron of Chapter #214, Order of the Eastern Star; member of the Scottish Rite Ladies Auxiliary; and until just recently, served on the Pinehurst City Council.

Bessie was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her husband, C.J. Huckaby of Pinehurst; sons and daughters-in-law, Kevin and Dana Bourque of Bridge City, Terry and Laura Huckaby of Katy, Brent Huckaby of LaPorte and granddaughters, Brittany Bourque and Ashlyn Huckaby.

Also surviving is her sister, Peggy Caruthers of Eugene, Oregon; brothers and sisters-in-law, Johnny and Jan Kalna, Kenny and Carol Kalna, all of Lake Charles, Louisiana; nieces, Christine Sampley of Eugene, Oregon, Dr. Carrie Caruthers and Jill Caruthers, both of New Orleans, Louisiana, Sarah Kalna of Lake Charles, Louisiana; nephews, John Pittman Kalna and Jared Kalna, both of Lake Charles, Louisiana; great niece, Camille Sampley and great nephew, Tristan Sampley.

Serving as pallbearers will be Pat Marshall, Harold Scales, Joey Nichols, Johnny Vayon, Luke Juda, Glyn Haley, Ronnie Bourque, and Darwin Osburn.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Youth Department of MacArthur Heights Baptist Church, 3600 Nightingale Street, Orange, Texas 77630.