Bessie Mae Stoner, 59, of Christie Road, Karns City, died at 9:45 a.m. Friday at her sister's home in New Castle, following an extended illness.

Born Sept. 5, 1945, in Clay Township, she was the daughter of the late Elizabeth Mae Findley Claypoole.

She was a Baptist and operated a residential cleaning business.

She is survived by three daughters, Debbie Wimer of Pierson, Fla., Pamela J. Gordan of Parker, and Robin L. King of Karns City; two sons, Paul L. Montgomery Jr. of Karns City, and Donald E. Montgomery of Boyers; a brother, Ronald Claypoole of New Castle; three sisters, Myrtle Callen, Florence Burk and Jean Keidel, all of New Castle; four granddaughters, eight grandsons, a great-granddaughter and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a son and a grandson.

STONER - Friends of Bessie Mae Stoner, who died Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at RICHARD D. HILLIS FUNERAL HOME, Petrolia. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. The Rev. Robert Mathias, pastor of the North Washington Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Committal services and interment will follow in the North Washington Cemetery.