of Scott, AR

January 17, 1933 - July 24, 2014

Alice Robinson Vineyard Bessette, 81, of Scott, Arkansas, died peacefully at home early Thursday, July 24, 2014 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's. Alice was women who loved God and lived by the message of St. John, ''they will know we are Christian by our love.'' She believed in the resurrection of Christ and the promise of eternal life.
Alice was born on January 17, 1933 in Little Rock, Arkansas to Margaret Campbell and Foster Anderson Vineyard. She grew up in Little Rock. She spent many of her summers in ''the country'' at RobBell on Old River Lake in Scott, Arkansas. She loved to swim and continued to swim in the lake until her late 70s.
In 1952, she graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and entered Austin College in Sherman, Texas. In 1953, she was confirmed as a member of the Episcopal Church and in 1954, she graduated from Austin College, prepared for work as director of religious education.
She was introduced to the Reverend Theodore ''Ted'' Bessette through mutual friends in 1956. They soon married and she joined him at his parish in Harvey, Illinois. While in Harvey they were blessed with their first three children, Frank, Margaret, and Theodore Jr.
In 1963, Theodore and Alice moved their family to Antioch, Illinois where Theodore was called to be Rector of St. Ignatius Episcopal Church. The family was soon joined by another son, George. Alice taught Sunday school and volunteered in ecumenical, Scouting and community activities. Despite her busy life, she always made time for her morning devotions and occasionally, a spiritual retreat with the Sisters of St. Mary in Racine, Wisconsin.
In the early 1970s, she attended Carthage College in Kenosha Wisconsin and obtained a teaching certificate. She found a calling teaching children with emotional and behavioral challenges. While working for the Special Education District of Lake County, Illinois she obtained a master degree from National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois.
In 1985, Ted retired and he and Alice moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas. Alice taught special education in North Little Rock, retiring in 1989 to spend time with Ted at Old River Lake in Scott, Arkansas. She was a founding member of Scott Connections. During her retirement, she enjoyed hosting friends and her children's friends at the lake. She also loved to garden, believing a garden could always use more flowering plants and trees.
Alice is survived by her children, Frank (Marcia), Margaret (Lynn), Theodore (Margaret), and George (Debby) and eight grandchildren, Alexa, Yasmine, Dominique, Robinson, Lilly, Alice, George, and Sally. She is also survived by her brother, Gordon Campbell Vineyard (Phyllis). She was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore, who died in January 2014 and one granddaughter, Brienna Lee.
A Mass of Christian burial for Alice Bessette will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 4106 JFK Boulevard, North Little Rock, Arkansas. Interment will be at Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock immediately following. Arrangements were made by Roller-Owens Funeral Home, 5509 JFK Boulevard, North Little Rock, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to St. Luke's Respite Care, 4106 JFK Boulevard, North Little Rock, Arkansas, 72116.

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