James Lloyd Bess

James Lloyd Bess was born on August 14th, 1934 to James Henry and Tressie Bess in McAlester, OK. He lived in OK only 18 months and his parents moved to Southern CA.
He attended school in Southern CA until age 9 and he moved to Escalon, CA on a farm with some animals. This was James delight. He got his first dog "Blackie" which became his companion daily as James was an only child. He lived in Escalon until becoming a teenager and the next move was to Ceres, CA. This is where he met his bride to be Patricia Burnett. They were married at Ceres Bethel Tabernacle in Ceres, CA on December 19, 1953. James was attending Modesto Jr. College at the time of his marriage. They began their married life in Ceres, Ca, where James was employed at Modesto Lumber Company. Their children, Debbie and Randy were born at Modesto Memorial Hospital in 1955 and 1957. They moved to the Sacramento area in 1962 where James started carpenter apprenticeship school. When the schooling was completed he began his career as a carpenter which lasted until 1995 when he retired from that occupation.

Jim was instrumental in organizing a Basketball program within the Assembly of God Churches, when our son was young. The various churches within the district competed against one another weekly and became very competitive overtime. He coached for many years. As our son grew, he was also his coach.
This was his passion as he saw the benefits the young people received from the program in building character and stability in their life. The most important benefit was that Jesus became Saviour of their lives at an early age. This passion carried over into later years, when he attended Abundant Life Fellowship, where he became a coach for twelve years for the 5-7 year olds and felt he made a difference in their young lives.

We moved to Newcastle, CA in 1966 on five acres we had purchased in 1963. He remained there for a year and in 1967 managed a thoroughbred horse ranch on Lonestar Road in Auburn, CA. In 1969 we purchased a home in Auburn and he resided there until September 2015 where he went to a senior care facility.
He attended 1st Assembly of God Church in Auburn for 23 years and from 1999 until his death he called Abundant Life Fellowship Church his home church.
He is survived by his wife Patricia in marriage of 62 years. Two children, daughter Debra Bess-Jones (husband Gary) son James Randell Bess (wife Nellie) of Waikanae, New Zealand. Five grandchildren, Jamiey Emmans (husband Andrew) of Spokane Washington. Jeromey Cayton of Grants Pass OR. Jordan Villacruzes of Truckee, CA. Madeline Bess of Wellington New Zealand. Annika Bess of Waikanae New Zealand. Nine great grandchildren, Isaiah, Tristan, Ethan, Claire, Micah, Charlotte, Ambrose Emmans of Spokane WA. Kylie and Jesse Cayton of Grants Pass OR.
James was preceded in death by his parents, James Henry and Tressie Bess.