Bess Cooley Buchanan, 80, passed away on Thursday, June 16th after a lengthy battle with Alzheimers disease. She is survived by her husband, Charles and her children, Carol (Bud) Moeller of McLean, VA, Judy (Patrick) Healy of Melbourne and Charlie (Abby) Buchanan of Little Rock, AR. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Eliza beth (Matt) Dopira, Melaine (Frank) Privitera, Kehne Moeller, Brendan Healy, Kate Healy, and Annalia Buchanan as well as a great-granddaughter, Alex is Privitera and a host of nieces and nephews. Bess is also survived by two brothers, Fred (Margaret) Cooley and Preston (Maxine) Cooley and three sisters-in-law, Barbara Buchanan, Juanita Buchanan and Patricia Cooley. She was predeceased by her parents and her brothers, Simeon Cooley and John Cooley. Bess was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Fred and Martha Cooley and moved with her family as an infant to Jones County, Mississippi. Growing up on a farm during the Great Depression there was not a lot of material wealth but the house was filled with love. Bess mother Martha made sure that the children were in church every time the doors were open and Bess accepted Jesus as her savior at the age of 10. Bess excelled at academics and athletics and because of her brother Sims athletic abilities was able to attend the Mississippi State College for Women on scholarship. Upon graduating she moved back to Jones County and married Charles in August of 1952. They moved to Jackson, Tennessee where Bess was an executive secretary to the owner of a hotel chain. Charles and Bess moved to Delray Beach, Florida to go into the appliance and air conditioning business and eventually moved to Melbourne in 1957. Bess and Charles were charter members of Central Baptist Church which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Bess sang in the choir and taught Sunday school and led an outreach ministry to nursing homes in the area. She also worked at polling stations during elections and was a secretary at the family business, Tropic Air. Bess al ways had a smile for everyone she met and was a great listener. She and Charles travelled the world together but what she loved most was spending time with friends and family. She especially enjoyed weekly fellowship with her dear friends at her home. A visitation for Bess will be held at the Davis Sea winds Funeral home at 560 Montreal Road Melbourne from 5 to 7 pm Monday, June 20th. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 21st at 2 pm at Central Baptist Church, 2503 Country Club Rd Melbourne officiated by Rev. Donnie Legg. Interment will be at Fountainhead Memorial Park. The family would like to thank the staffs at both Health First Hospice and Vitas Hospice for support and a special thank you to Marie Santini for her love and support as caregiver as a relief to Charles. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Vitas Hospice of Melbourne, 4450 West Eau Gallie Blvd. No. 250, Melbourne, FL 32934 or Hospice of Health First, 1900 Dairy Road Melbourne, FL 32904 or the Alzheimers Foundation.