Long-time Fairbanks resident, Bess King Pulliam, 64, peacefully went to sleep in death at her home, September 7, 1998, after a long battle with cancer, with her husband and daughter by her side.

      She was born May 2, 1934, to Johnny King and Luddie Reese in Northport, Alabama.

      She always took an interest in other people, and truly enjoyed helping others in their personal lives -- helping them to become better people.  She showed such loving concern, that many came to view her as part of their own family, always able to go to her for counsel and upbuilding.  She will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

      Her true love in life was her husband and family.  She was a loving and supportive wife.  She had a special relationship with her daughter, who was her closest friend.  She also loved her only grandson very much, and took special effort to help him to be the best he could be.  Bess was also the best mother-in-law a son-in-law could ever have.  She enjoyed going on trips throughout Alaska with her family in their travel trailer.  The high point of the summer was always the annual trip to Fielding Lake for Labor Day weekend.

      Bess,  at the age of 18, married Joe Pulliam in 1952 in Chicago, while Joe was in the Army.  After being stationed at Ladd Field in Fairbanks,  in the 1950's,  Joe saw the opportunities in Alaska and decided to bring his family, with

      While Bess and her husband were stationed in Oklahoma, she began to study the Holy Scriptures, and when they moved to Alaska, she continued in her studies.  She learned of an Earthly hope (Isaiah 45:18, Psalms 37:10, 11), that those who died would be resurrected (John 5:28, 29) to a restored paradise Earth.  In her last days, she took special comfort in the words at Revelation 21:3, 4, that say that God will wipe out every tear and man's great enemy death will be no more, neither will there be mourning, nor outcry, nor pain be anymore.  Her firm faith in these truths were also shared by her family, and they take comfort, knowing that they have the hope of seeing her again, in good health, in that restored Paradise Earth.

      She was preceded in death by her father, Johnny King, and her sister Mattye Brown.

      She is survived by her mother, Luddie Reese; her husband of 46 years, Joe Pulliam; her daughter Karen Pulliam Algarin, son-in-law, David J. Algarin, and her grandson, James-David J. Algarin.

      A memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, located on the old Steese Highway, between the Steese and Johansen Expressways, on Saturday, September 12, at 1:30 p.m.

      Local arrangements by Northern Lights Mortuary.