SIKESTON -- Bessie Mae Tatum, 75, a resident of Sikeston and formerly of East Prairie, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 11, 1923, at Wyatt, daughter of George E. and Essie Mae Foster Lowry. She had lived in Mississippi and Scott counties most of her life.

On Jan. 22, 1945, she married Treever Tatum. He died Feb. 27, 1990. Two sons, four brothers and two sisters also preceded her in death.

She is survived by four sons, Ronald Tatum of East Prairie, Dale Tatum of Murray, Ky., Frankie Tatum of Jefferson City and Michael Tatum of Sikeston; four daughters, Brenda Evans of Cape Girardeau, Cathy Womack, Betty Lou Wilkerson and Masil Felty, all of Sikeston; a sister, Violet Schnur of Rockford, Ill.; 15 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

Graveside funeral will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Anniston Cemetery. The Rev. Amos Johnson will officiate.

Burial is under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.