EGAN, Tess H. Bennick

Tess H. Bennick Egan, winter visitor to the Valley, resident of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, died January 29, 2004, at age 80. Tess and her husband Joe Egan have wintered in Phoenix since 1997. Tess started teaching at Sussex in Wyoming in cattle and sheep country during the time when one class contained children from first grade to twelfth and had to get to school on horseback. Before moving to Britain in 1977, Tess was a long-time employee of the Kyrene School District, first as secretary to the superintendent, business manager, and later, after achieving her teaching certificate, as head librarian. Tess moved to Britain to serve as a librarian in the U.S. Department of Defense School at Lakenheath Air Force Base. Tess is preceded in death by her first husband, Eugene R. Bennick. She is survived by her loving husband Joe Egan; by her daughter Kathleen Bennick Dolge (David), grandson Michael Dolge (Laurie); daughter Kristine Espinoza (Juan), grandson Samuel Vance (Candace), great-grandson Maxwell, and granddaughter Joana Espinoza (Michael Gwynn); and by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, especially her cousin and advisor Galen H. Wilkes of Pinetop. Private services are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014 or Grand Canyon Council, Boy Scouts of America, 2969 N. Greenfield Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016. Published in the Arizona Republic from 1/30/2004 - 1/31/2004.