Bess A. Propes, age 84, of McKinney, Texas, passed away on January 2, 2017. She was born April 25, 1932 in Murphysboro, Illinois to Charles Herman and Lillian Lucille (Youngman) Meininger. On June 14, 1952, Bess married Gene Propes in Corinth, Mississippi. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education, in 1960, from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. Bess was an elementary school teacher for twenty eight years in Illinois. She volunteered at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, served Meals on Wheels and was a bell ringer for the Salvation Army in McKinney, Texas. Bess was a member of First United Methodist Church in McKinney.
She is survived by her husband of sixty four years, Gene Propes of McKinney, Texas; daughters, Pat Buikema and husband Greg also of McKinney, Mary Slack of Plano, Margaret Chilicki and husband Michael of McKinney; grandchildren, Ryan Slack and wife Shannon, Andrew Chilicki and wife Melissa, Erin Walker and husband Chet, Elizabeth Snider and husband Chris, Adam Chilicki and Taylor Buikema; great-grandchildren, Spencer Slack, Logan Slack and Ivy Walker; many other loving relatives and friends.
Bess is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Lillian Meininger; brother, William Meininger; sister, Jane Lehr; and son-in-law, Tom Slack.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at First United Methodist Church, 315 N. Church Street, McKinney, Texas 75069. A private inurnment will be held at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery.
For memorials, please consider: Lydia Patterson Institute, 517 Florence Street, El Paso, Texas 79940. Lydia Patterson Institute is a Methodist Christian college-preparatory school.