Robney Phillip Bessire
September 4, 1938 — July 24, 2011
Rodney Phillip Bessire, better known as "Gator," passed away July 24, 2011 from kidney failure. He was born September 4, 1938 to Bernie and Eula Mae (Reed) Bessire in Sayre, Oklahoma. The family later moved to Pharr, Texas where he spent his childhood.
He married Mavaun Nielsen on January 28, 1967 in American Fork, Utah. They lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for six years and then moved their family to Utah in order to raise them in a better environment. They divorced after 28 years of marriage in 1995.
Rodney spent the last fifteen years of his working career with Lone Star Bus Lines in Tyler, Texas. After suffering a stroke in 2007, he moved back to Richfield, Utah to be closer to his children.
Rodney is survived by his sister, Carol Elaine Smith of Kingsland, Texas; his four children, Toni Lynn (Shawn) Smith of Monroe, Utah, Rodney Phillip (Loreen) Bessire Jr. of Hope Mills, North Carolina, Lori Marie (Evan) Hollingshead of Clarkston, Utah, and Rodger Lee Bessire of Davenport, Iowa; his eleven grandchildren, and his one great-granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents.
Rodney will be cremated, as per his wishes, and interred with his parents at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in McAllen, Tx. Funeral directors, Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.