London - Bessie Young, age 102, of London, Kentucky passed away on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

She leaves behind two children, Barbara Hale & husband Glenn, Kenneth Young & wife Tammy, all of Keavy, Ky; seven grandchildren, Robert Hale & wife Carolyn, Diane Joop & husband Mark, Monica Vorbeck & husband David, Jessica Roark & husband Bill, Todd Campbell & wife Debbie, Michelle Howard & husband Tim, Amy Godsey & husband Darrell; ten great grandchildren, Dylan Anders, Makenzie Vorbeck, Luke Vorbeck, Josslyn Roark, Katie Radtke, Riley Radtke, Jared Hale & wife Sarah, Madison Campbell, Nicholas Campbell, Allison Campbell; one great grandchild; her caregiver and friend, Brenda Tabor, and also Kaellie and Joann; plus a host of other family and friends to cherish her memory.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Monroe Young; her parents, Taylor & Nancy Day Sizemore; her son, Curtis Young; her granddaughter, Valerie Hale; and by seven siblings, Lucricia Callahan, Myrtle Smith, Edna Thorpe, Chester Sizemore, Bentley Sizemore, Sherman Sizemore, George Sizemore.

Bessie was a remarkable woman whose life was marked by hard work, quiet strength, and deep love for her family and community.

Bessie worked for many years as the cafeteria manager at Keavy Elementary School, where she nourished generations of children with both good meals and a caring spirit. A proud member of the Greatest Generation, she earlier made history as a true "Rosie the Riveter," contributing to the Manhattan Project after beginning her career building airplanes in Indiana—an achievement that reflected her patriotism, skill, and determination during a pivotal time in our nation's history.

At home, Bessie's hands were rarely still. She loved to quilt, creating beautiful pieces that carried warmth, tradition, and love. She was an avid gardener and took great pride in her land. After the passing of her husband, Bessie ran the farm herself, proving once again her resilience and independence. She believed in the value of work and always had a job for everyone in the family, teaching responsibility, cooperation, and the satisfaction of a day well spent.

Bessie was a faithful member of Keavy Church of Christ, where her life reflected her strong values and steady faith.

Her legacy lives on in the lessons she taught, the beauty she created, and the family she loved so well. She will be remembered as a hardworking woman, a devoted caregiver, and a quiet force of strength whose life truly made a difference.

A funeral service honoring Bessie Young was held on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of House-Rawlings Funeral Home with Paul Matney, Bill Browning and Jim Day officiating. Interment followed at Locust Grove Cemetery in Keavy, Kentucky. The family entrusted House-Rawlings Funeral Home with the arrangements.