Pop’s second marriage explored

Grandma Theresa shocked me years ago when she mentioned Pop marrying someone named Bess when he and she were divorced for several years. I found them in the 1930 census records living in a house in Jefferson City, Missouri. It said he was employed as a chef in a hotel. The house is still standing. the picture is from Google Maps street view.

I don’t have a marriage date but it must have been in the late 20’s. Bess was born Bessie Rees on February 17, 1889. She was previously married to Harold Rank and her 14 year old daughter Catherine Rank was living with her and Pop. Bessie Rees Rank Stone died September 23, 1935 in Lincoln, Kansas at the age of 46.
 
I don’t know if she and Pop were still married at her death. He remarried Theresa a year later. The picture is from another family tree that includes her on ancestry.com. Someone added the comment “ Bessie Rees Rank Stone – husband Stone was a cook and a drunk”. Catherine Rank died in Winetka, Illinois in 1997 at the age of 81.