Services for Florence Marie Bell, 92, of Perry will be held Saturday, May 4 at 10 a.m. at the Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Visitation will start at 1 p.m., with family present from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pastor Rick Gates of the Crossroads Church in Perry will provide words of comfort. Honorary bearers will be Florence’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Casket bearers will be Ryan Carter, Skylar Bell, John Hansman, Lance McFarland, Nicholas Cone and Bob Moses.
Recorded music will include “The Old Rugged Cross’” and “How Great Thou Art.” Interment will take place at Richland Township Cemetery in Guthrie County. Following the services at the cemetery, a luncheon will be served in the Hastings Funeral Home lounge.
Florence Marie Bell, daughter of Ernest Cox and Lizzie Boone Cox, was born March 16, 1927, in Jamaica, Iowa, and died April 27, 2019, at the Pearl Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Perry, Iowa, at the age of 92.
Florence grew up in Jamaica and attended school there.
Every summer she would work detasseling corn.
On August 25, 1944, Florence and John Elmer Bell Sr. were united in marriage. The couple made their home in Perry and had three children, John Elmer Jr., Charles and Linda Sue.
Florence enjoyed camping, shopping, going to the Sale Barn, embroidering and crocheting.
She worked at the Perry Lutheran Home in the Alzheimer’s Wing as a CNA and CMA for 48 years. In between working there, she also cooked at different restaurants.
Florence was a member of the American Legion Post 85 in Perry and was the first one united into the Iowa Care and Givers Association.
She was an excellent cook and collected many recipes over the years.
Florence was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Lizzie; husband, John Elmer Sr.; daughter, Linda Sue Gibson on Nov. 9, 2011); son, Charles Bell on Jan. 31, 2013; sister, Estella Gleam; and son-in-law, Loren Gibson.
Florence is survived by her son, John Elmer Bell Jr. of Madrid; grandchildren, Jackie Bell, Sereina (Lance) McFarland, Terry Bell, Bill Gibson, Laura Bell, Corrina (Harry) Devilbiss, Donald Gibson, Ryan (Alysha) Carter, Joshua Bell, Jason Bell, Jessica (John) Hansman, Jon Bell, Krystal Bell, Jacob Bell, Ronald Bell, Skylar Bell and Makayla Bell; great-grandchildren, Thomas Carter, Haley Carter, Carter Hansman, Kinsley Hansman, Cameron Hansman, Nicholas Cone, Brittany Cone, Michael Cone Jr., Arthur McFarland, Daniel Cone and Abby McFarland; great-great-grandchildren, Kinley, Austin, Sophia, Logan and Avian; daughter-in-law, Janie Reeves Bell of Bondurant; other relatives; and many friends.
We enjoyed your parents when thy were our neighbors. They will be more missed now that thy both are gone. Sorry for your loss. Dick and Carolyn Owens.