Clifford "Pops" Bessette was born on May 1, 1925 in Burlington, Vermont to Ernest and Lena (Lord) Bessette. He was married to Essie Hughes on February 14, 1973 in Milton, Vermont and they came to Brownwood, Texas in 1975. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II and saw action in the Ardennes and the Rhineland. He was a member of Christ Chapel and a Lifetime member of the VFW.
He is survived by his son, Running-Deer Bessette of Bangs; daughters, Teki Cass of Burlington, Vt., Pale-Moon Winslow of Orleans, Vt., and Hazel Ouelette and husband Charles of Lakeland, Fla., Noreen Gilbert of Arvada, Colo.; step-daughters, Lorie McWhirter and husband Michael of Brownwood and Sherrie Nix of Brownwood; step-sons, Carl Boivin and wife Terry of Brownwood, Charles Boivin and wife Sandie of Essex Junction, Vt., and Garry Boivin and wife Gloria of Marshville, N. C.; sisters, Lena Frazier of Colorado Springs, Colo., Nancy Bessette of Burlington, Vt., and Joyce Bessette of Burlington, Vt.; brothers, Ervin Bessette and wife Dianne of Florida and Donnie Bessette of Burlington, Vt.; grandchildren, Mark Hayden of Texas, Bradley Hayden of Vermont, Daniel Francis of Vermont, Jerrick Bessette and wife Heather of Bangs, Silvia Bessette and husband Mike of Odessa, Julie Pyle and husband Michael of Robinson, Jessica Galloway and husband Dustin of Brownwood, Amanda Wilkerson of Brownwood, Sarah McWhirter of Brownwood, Elizabeth McWhirter of Brownwood, Joseph McWhirter and wife Erika of Lubbock, Jayson Nix of Brownwood, Justin Nix of Brownwood, Michael Nix and wife Lavonna of Stephenville, Robert Funderburg of Brownwood, Scott Funderburg of Brownwood, Clifford Boivin of Vermont, Richard Boivin of Vermont and Christopher Flowers of Brownwood; great-grandchildren, Leighe Anna Rittiner, Kylee Rittiner, McKenzee Bobo, Lexus Carroll and Johnny Raymond Wilkerson; special friends, Liz and Bryant Martin and Donnie Bessette. He was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Essie Mae Hughes Bessette; parents, Ernest and Lena Bessette; and son, Running-Bear Bessette.