SANMANN, Bessie I. (Sprague)

Funeral for Bessie Irene Sanmann, 99, Geronimo, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Herschel Lindsey officiating. Mrs. Sanmann died Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, in Lawton. Private burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. She was born Sept. 10, 1912, in Cutler, Ill., to William and Verrena Kell Sprague. She graduated from Oklahoma College for Women in 1933 with a BA in math. She began her teaching career in Valley View in the fall of 1933. She married Everett Lowell Sanmann July 23, 1936, in Waurika. She began a masters program in math and education at the University of Oklahoma in the summer of 1934 and began teaching at Geronimo High School in the fall of that same year. Except for a brief time at Pioneer High School and Red Cross Elementary, she remained at Geronimo High School until 1957. At that time she moved to Lawton Central Junior High where she remained until 1967. During this timeframe, in 1966, she completed her work on her Masters Degree in Secondary Education. Her teaching career continued during her from 1969 until 1972 at Eisenhower High School, at which time she retired. She was a long time member of the Geronimo Baptist Church, serving as its pianist for many years, and substituting in later years when the occasion required. She touched countless people throughout her lifetime and was instrumental in many going on to lead even more fulfilling and productive lives. Survivors include two children and their spouses: Dr. Everett Eugene and Barbara Sanmann, Colorado Spring, Colo. and Betty and Robert Johnson, Florissant, Mo.; a grandson and spouse: Justin and Christine Plante and four great-grandchildren: Caleb, Eden, Abigail and Jessica as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and four siblings: Howard Sprague, Lucille Miller, Lorane Sprague and Margaret Westfall.