Genevieve "Gen" Lavonne (Piper) Essex

Genevieve “Gen” Lavonne Essex, 96 years of age, of Beatrice died September 9, 2018, at Beatrice Health and Rehabilitation in Beatrice. She was born April 5, 1922, at New Raymer, Colorado, to Bert and Mabel (Banks) Piper. The family moved to Frontier County, Nebraska, in 1926. Gen graduated from high school at Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis in 1939. She moved to Lincoln and attended Lincoln School of Commerce in 1940, then worked for Lincoln Oil Co. as a typist/bookkeeper from August 1940 to February 1943. Genevieve married Howard Thomas Essex on Oct. 11, 1941. They moved to a farm near Union Center and then to Blue Springs, where she was a member of the United Methodist Church and a Sunday school teacher. Howard and Gen moved to Beatrice in 1959 after Howard started work for American Breeders Service. She worked as a clerk at Brown McDonald's and Hesteds in downtown Beatrice, and was bookkeeper for her husband's business. Genevieve was a devoted wife, avid reader and able letter writer.

Gen is survived by two daughters, Eunice and her husband, Jim Wilson, of Gillette, Wyoming, Lois Essex of Lincoln; a son, Randy Essex and his wife, Angelyn Frankenberg, of Detroit; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard, in 1996; son, Howard “Tom” Thomas Jr. in 2013; daughter, Judith Elaine, who died shortly after her birth in 1947; grandson Jayson Stigley in 2017; three sisters; four brothers; two half-sisters; and three half-brothers. 

Private Family Memorial Services will be held at a later date. Inurnment will be in the Stark Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Beatrice Public Library in care of the mortuary. The family will hold a private service. Harman-Wright Mortuary in Beatrice in charge of arrangements.

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