LAWRENCE C. BLESSING

COBDEN, Ill. -- Lawrence C. "Hoss" Blessing, 71, of Cobden, died Tuesday, June 13, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born May 16, 1924, at Makanda, son of Edd and Daisy Cleastia Parker Blessing. He and Mildred Marie Smith were married July 10, 1942, in Cape Girardeau.

Blessing retired as a correctional officer at Menard State Prison in Chester. He was a member of Makanda Baptist Church, Cobden American Legion Post 259, and life member of Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455 in Anna. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Clarence Blessing of Cobden; two daughters, Betty George and Peggy Crowell of Cobden; a sister, Pearl Born of Murphysboro; seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.

Friends may call at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden after 6 p.m. today.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery at Makanda, with military graveside rites by Cobden American Legion Post and Carroll P. Foster VFW Post.