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Rev. Bessie Hazel (Poole) Olson

Rev. Bessie Hazel (Poole) Olson, 84, a resident of Chautauqua County, N.Y., passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2017.

She was born in Grove City, Pa., on March 13, 1933, daughter to Pearl N. Poole & Osceola G. Poole of Stoneboro, Pa.

She is preceded in death by her parents and sisters Dorothea E. Palmer and Pearl Anna Poole and brother, Theodore N Poole and her son, Larry D. Olson (Marion).

 She is survived by her devoted husband of 65 years, Donald F. Olson, her children; Hazel J Nolan (Wade), Donna B. Myers (Steven), Mona P. Olson (Kathryn Neynaber), Rev. David E. Olson (Linda), Dale D. Olson (Amanda), Joy D. Olson and Rev. Aaron F. Olson (Leigh Anne). Her grandchildren, Reed Nolan (Candice), Cory Nolan (April), Bess Nolan, Shari Bower (Ed), Lorraine Potts, Angela Sipahelut (Marvin), Daniel Myers (Amanda), Christina Glover (Robert), Michael Olson (Brittany), Aimee Olson, Trevor Olson, Alaina Olson, Luke Olson, Tiffany Perrin, Kaitlynd Small (Mike), Alyssa Olson, Cody Olson.  Also 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In 1976 Bessie attended C.L. Lane Bible Institute in Western Pennsylvania, graduating with a BA in Church Ministries in May 1979 with honors. In 1979 she was called to pastor the Ross Mills Church of God in Falconer, N.Y., where she continued to pastor till she passed. She served various leadership positions in the Western NY Church of God General Assembly.

She often said she loved raising her children. She was an avid reader, an artist who loved drawing and creating art, a motorcycle enthusiast still wanting to ride even till the end, and she loved music, singing and playing any instrument she laid her hands on which included the piano, violin, mandolin, recorder, flute, etc. She sang for the Sweet Adaline’s for a time and mostly sang every day of her life, passing this love of singing onto her children. She was a strong and compassionate woman that accomplished whatever she set her heart to. She loved God and loved sharing that love with all she met. She will be greatly missed as she touched many lives.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Ross Mills Church, 3843 E. Ross Mills Road, Falconer, NY. Bessie’s sons: Rev. David Olson and Rev. Aaron Olson, and her son-in-law, Rev. Steven Myers, will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Sandy Lake, Pa. (Due to construction of the Route 380 bridge intersection and Ross Mills Road, please use Gerry-Levant Road to get to East Ross Mills Road where the church is located.)

Friends will be received by the family from 5-8 p.m. Friday in the Falconer Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the funeral service in the church Saturday.

Memorial contributions may be donated to Ross Mills Church, 3843 E. Ross Mills Road, Falconer, NY 14733.

Visit our website at www.falconerfuner alhome.net to send a message of condolence.