Benton Earl Chessher

Ben Chessher passed away Tuesday, November 24, 2020, at his home in

Cooper.

Benton Earl Chessher was born March 14, 1943, in Brownfield, Texas, to Owen Wayne and Bonnie Nabors Chessher, the sixth of eight children.  When he was very young the family moved back to Delta County.  He attended Pecan Gap School.  For a time the family lived in Los Angeles, Ca. and he attended school there.  He came back to Delta County to graduate from Cooper High School in 1961.

He entered the US Army in 1964, married Margaret Box in 1965 while stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas.  They had a daughter, Carmen, in 1970, after moving back to Cooper.

After having a auto body shop in Cooper for 10 years and working as an insurance adjuster for AllState Ins. Co, he bought land, the family built a home, and Ben became a cattle rancher.  But his love was automobiles.  So he began buying and selling classic autos.  He and Margaret travelled the US, looking for classic cars, mostly European sport cars.  His buyers were in England, Italy, Spain, and Germany. He enjoyed travelling in Europe to meet his buyers and tour the countries.  One of his prized cars, a 1912 DeLage, went to a museum in Portugal.  He also loved motorcycles, buying and selling the classic Indians and Harleys.  His old friends in Pecan Gap will remember him as a young “Evel Knievel” riding his Harley off a loading dock, flying through the air a very short time and hitting the ground very hard.  He said it almost killed him, but he rode away smiling.

He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, having been saved and baptized there in 1993.  Praise God!

About 10 years ago dementia hit.  He lost his ability to speak and gradually the dreaded disease took all of him.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and daughter, Carmen,  one brother Cole Chessher of Charleston, one sister, Alma Click, also of Charleston, sister-in-law Nora Chessher of Commerce, sister-in-law Treva Burns of Sulphur Springs, brother-in-law Roy Pierce of Plattville, WI.  and his favorite Mother-in-law Jenell Box of Cooper, numerous nieces and nephews, and his special nurse for the last three years, Mimi Fees.

He was laid to rest  Wednesday, November 25, 2020, at a                                                                           

private family service at Oaklawn Cemetery in Cooper, with Rev. T.J. Willingham officiating.  The family request that memorials be made to Samaritan’s Purse.

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