Bessie Villa Randles, long-time Hardesty resident, passed away Sunday afternoon, December 3, 2023 at her home NE of Hardesty surrounded by her loving family.

The daughter of William Arvy and Minnie Edna (Rankin) Carter, Bess was born September 26, 1914 at Grand Valley in Beaver County Oklahoma.

She attended Palestine School at Grand Valley, PAMC now OPSU, and was a member of the of the first graduating Class at Hardesty High School in 1932.

Bess was married to James Franklin Randles on April 18, 1935, the week of Black Sunday in the midst of the Dust Bowl.  The marriage took place at the Methodist parsonage in Guymon.  Jim preceded her in death on February 23, 1995.

She became a Chrisian at an early age and served her Lord and Savior all her life.  She attended the Apostolic Faith Church, now Hardesty Community Church, and taught Sunday School there many years.  She was a member of Range Quilters, WCTU.  Bess was a talented homemaker, constantly sewing, quilting, crocheting, knitting, gardening, and cooking.  She was honored as Pioneer Queen in 2014.

Bess and Jim provided a loving Christian home for their children, whose friends and cousins loved to spend time at the Randles farm.

Bess is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jim Randles, son, James Stephen Randles and six brothers and sisters, and many dear friends.  .

Survivors include her four children: Philip Wayne Randles and wife, Eve of Ingram, Texas, Cheryl Ann Talley of Harrisonburg, Virginia, Donna Luan Corsoe and husband, Frank of Toledo, Ohio and Enid Loret Holt and husband, Steve of Borger, Texas, daughter-in-law, Marie Randles of Kilgore, Texas, six grandchildren, Tiffany Thomas and husband, Jesse, Stephen Holt, Cynthia Randles and husband, Omer Ozkul, Jim Randles and wife, Mandy, Elizabeth Corsoe, Sarah Rhinehart and husband, Chad and five great grandchildren.  Survivors also include on brother, Joe Carter and wife, Darla of Canon City, Colorado, sister-in-law, Mary Ruthe Carter of Amarillo, Texas, brother-in-law, Dean Randles of Hugoton, Kansas., and special friends, Tom and Phyllis Stephens, Jo Ann Tharp and Treva Richards, many dear friends and family.

Family interment will be Friday morning, December 8th at 11:00 a.m. in the Hardesty Hartville Cemetery.

A Celebration of life will be Friday afternoon, December 8th at 1:00 p.m. at Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home in Guymon with Rev. Dan Carter officiating.

Memorials in memory of Bess may be given to the Hartville Cemetery.    Memorials will be accepted at Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Oklahoma 73942.  Friends can sign the online guest book and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com.