Jacksonville Journal

Floyd W. Hess, 93, of Jacksonville, died Thursday morning, Dec. 10, 1998, at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville.

He was born Dec. 10, 1905, in Morgan County, the son of Louis C. and Clara E. Yeck Hess. He married Sarah Kathryn Houston on Aug. 14, 1937, in Morgan County, and she preceded him in death on Aug. 27, 1963. He later married Catherine A. Dancey Bonjean on April 17, 1965, in Jacksonville, and she survives.

He is also survived by two daughters, Carole Ann Meyers Young of Plano, Texas; Beverly Kay Hoffman (husband, Terry) Thompson of Spring Valley; two stepsons, Dr. Charles M. Bonjean of Austin, Texas; D. Spencer (wife, Dyane) Bonjean of Leeds, Ala.; one stepdaughter, Sandra (husband, James) Crouse of Huntsville, Ala.; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Paul (wife, Helen) of rural Jacksonville; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Clifford L. (surviving wife, Dorothy of South Jacksonville); and Howard J.; and one sister, Elizabeth Myers (surviving husband, Howard of Quincy).

Mr. Hess graduated from Chapin High School and attended Illinois College. He served as a schoolteacher in area schools and later as an insurance agent for Country Companies. In 1937 he joined Klump Oil Co. and later owned and operated Hess Tire Co. in Jacksonville from 1949 until his retirement in 1972. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Jacksonville Elks Lodge, Harmony Lodge 3 AF & AM, and Ansar Shrine. A devoted member of the Jacksonville Lions Club, Mr. Hess was a past president, 55 year member and a strong supporter of the club's vision programs. He was also a past president of the Illinois Tire Dealers Association.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Gillham-Buchanan Funeral Home in Jacksonville with burial at Ebenezer Cemetery north of Jacksonville. Friends may call after 1 p.m. Saturday with the family meeting friends from 4-6 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Grace United Methodist Church or the Jacksonville Lions Club.