Bessie Lee (Ballou) Revas

Bessie (Ballou) Revas, Ada resident, passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2023 in Ada, OK.  Bessie was born on June 8, 1935 in Locust Grove, OK to Pete and Louise Ballou.  She was the third of four children.  She attended Ballou school through the eighth grade, then continued her education at Chilocco Indian School where she learned the trade of dry-cleaning garments.  Bessie excelled in basketball while at Chilocco.  One of her fondest memories was going down to Spring Creek and “gigging” crawdads before carrying them home in an empty 3-pound lard can for her mother to cook.

After graduation, she accepted a job in a dry-cleaning store and moved to Tulsa, OK.  While working in Tulsa, she met the love of her life, Thomas (Tom) L. Revas.  They were married March 29, 1957, in Sapulpa, OK.  After marrying they had four children and in 1965, the family moved to Bowlegs, OK where she would spend the rest of her life.  Bessie decided to pursue her nursing degree and put herself through school, becoming an LPN.  After graduation, she went to work in Holdenville General Hospital and worked there until retiring.  She enjoyed reading James Patterson novels and watching old Westerns.

She showered her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with unconditional love.  She attended Mekusukey Baptist Church until she could no longer attend due to her health.  After the loss of her beloved husband, she enjoyed visiting with friends and participating in the exercise classes at the Heritage House Center.  Bessie was grounded in her faith and willing to share the “good news” with others.  She loved cooking for her growing family, and they especially loved her chicken and dumplings and fry bread.  Bessie always welcomed family into her home.  If you wanted to make her smile, just show up with a tall glass of sweet tea.  Every Spring, she looked forward to cooking up a batch of wild onions.

Bessie was preceded in death by her parents, Pete and Louise Ballou; husband, Tom Revas; sisters, Ginger Panther and Ella Mae Panther; and grandson, Dustin L. Revas.

Bessie is survived by her sister, Leona Panther; children, Judy and Rick Pearce of Ada, OK, Lance and Kelli Revas of Moore, OK, Mark and Jennifer Revas of Sand Springs, OK and Pamela Sue (Revas) Garrett of Mayflower, AR; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and many other family and friends.

Those serving as casket bearers will be Gary Revas, James Brown, Justin Revas, Andrew Harmon, Jimmy Brauning and Gary Mainord.  Honorary casket bearers will be David Brown, Dean Estes and staff of Heritage House.

Viewing will be on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole, Oklahoma with Randy Golden of High Hill Baptist Church officiating.  Burial will follow at Revas Family Cemetery in Bowlegs, Oklahoma.