Elizabeth Ann (Losack) Kessner passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her home in Hempstead, Texas on April 25, 2025, at the age of 87. ‘Liz’, as she was known by many, was born September 24, 1937, in Navasota, Texas to Shelby Lee Losack and Edna (Doss) Losack. Liz spent the majority of her childhood in Hempstead, but also spent some of her early years growing up along the gulf coast in Guy and Angleton, when her daddy worked for Dow Chemical in Freeport during the World War II era.
Liz attended public schools in Guy, Angleton, and finally Hempstead where she graduated in 1955. After graduation, Liz and sister Frankie, moved to the Brazosport area to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Freeport. After working a short time at the phone company, Liz began her 30-plus year career in office management working for several industrial construction companies in the Freeport area, including the Lummus Construction Company, Bundick Brothers Construction, Key Associates, and finally Process Piping where she retired in 1987. Liz was proud of her career in the local Brazosport industry, and she always held fond memories of the people she had worked with over the years.
While Liz was working in the office at Lummus Construction Company, she received a visit from a young Dow Chemical employee by the name of ‘Bud,’ who had heard of “a new girl working in the office over there.” Liz married Ernest Lee ‘Bud’ Kessner Jr. on December 10, 1958. Bud’s curiosity to go visit the new girl that day resulted in a marriage that would span 51 years and produce two daughters, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Bud and Liz initially made their home in Angleton and Lake Jackson, before settling in Clute where they raised their family and were faithful members of Clute Church of Christ for many years. After retiring, Bud and Liz moved to their country home in Livingston, Texas, where she began a second career as an office professional at the Polk County Memorial Hospital, and spent another 20 years before finally retiring from the workforce. During their years in Livingston, Bud and Liz made many friends and were faithful members of the Northside Church of Christ until Bud’s passing in 2011 when Liz eventually moved back to Hempstead the following year to be closer to family.
Liz was preceded in death by her parents, Shelby and Edna Losack; husband, Ernest Lee ‘Bud’ Kessner Jr., and sister, Patricia Walker. Left to cherish Liz’s memories are daughters Leigh Ann Harris (Steve) of Tyler, Jerilyn Matthews (Ronnie) of Hempstead, sister Frankie Pearce of Lake Jackson, grandchildren Jason Harris (DeDe) of Brazoria, Chad Harris (Aimee) of Indianapolis, Ind., Joel Harris (Morgan) of Tyler, Nathan Matthews (Katie) of Hempstead, Rachel Lankford (Nate) of Savannah, Ga., John Matthews (Rachel) of Tomball, and Daniel Matthews (Samantha) of Granbury, 18 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at the Cannon Funeral Home in Waller on May 3, 2025 at 11 a.m. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. prior to the service. Ronnie Matthews will officiate the service. Liz’s grandson, Jason Harris, will deliver the eulogy, and grandsons Nathan, John, and Daniel Matthews will honor her memory with the singing of her favorite gospel hymns. Serving as pallbearers are Jason, Chad, Joel, and Dylan Harris, Nathan, John, and Daniel Matthews, and Shelley Lankford. Serving as honorary pallbearers are DeDe Harris, Darian Vasquez, Hunter Vasquez, Claire Elizabeth Vasquez, Aimee Harris, Lauren Fleming, Kaleb Fleming, Addison Harris, Morgan Shockey, Corbin Shockey, Cooper Shockey, Katie Matthews, Micah Matthews, Reagan Matthews, Silas Matthews, Levi Matthews, Nate Lankford, Jackson Lankford, Aiden Lankford, Kayson Lankford, Rachel Matthews, A.J. Matthews, Morgan Matthews, Samantha Matthews, Alayna Matthews, Audrey Beth Matthews, and Archie Matthews. A private graveside service will be held at the family’s Cedar Creek Cemetery in Hempstead.
