Bernice Hemphill Obituary

Durango resident Bernice W. Hemphill died of heart failure at Four Corners Health Care Center on Monday, Feb. 23, 2009. She was 87.

Mrs. Hemphill was born to Roscoe and Hannah Wright in Pleasanton, Calif., on June 15, 1921. When she was young, her family moved to Pacific Grove, Calif., where she attended school. In June 1940, she graduated from Pacific Grove High School.

On Oct. 25, 1941, she married Ralph Besseson. The marriage later ended in divorce.

She married Carl William Hemphill on Aug. 22, 1960. He died after 28 years of marriage in 1988.

In an interesting twist, Mr. Besseson came back into her life after her husband's death, and he lived with her and was her companion until his own death in 1999.

Mrs. Hemphill was a bookkeeper at First National Bank of Durango. She retired after 25 years with the bank. Because both of her husbands were veterans, Mrs. Hemphill belonged to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4031 for more than 40 years. She particularly enjoyed selling poppies and riding on floats in Veterans Day parades.

Mrs. Hemphill loved cats, dogs and birds. She enjoyed feeding the birds every day while she was at Four Corners Health Care Center. She also enjoyed listening to music and watching movies and television.

Mrs. Hemphill is survived by her sister, Ruth Colvin, of San Diego; two nieces and one nephew; and numerous great-nieces, great-nephews and other extended family members.

A graveside memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 5, 2009, at Greenmount Cemetery. Chaplain Earl Caudill will officiate. Cremation will occur.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Memorial at Greenmount Cemetery, c/o VFW, 1550 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301; or Hospice of Mercy, 1 Mercado St., Suite 270, Durango, CO 81301.