Elva Jean (Curtis) Bell

Elva Jean (Curtis) Bell was born to Lawson and Thedith (Arnett) Curtis on September 22, 1928, in Ozark County, Missouri, and passed away on January 10, 2014, at her son and daughter-in-law’s home in Groveland, Florida, under Cornerstone Hospice, surrounded by family, at 85 years of age.

Jean grew up in Douglas County, the second oldest of fourteen children. She attended Pine Flat School, helped raise her younger siblings, enjoyed Bryant Creek and walked to Rockbridge countless times with her many siblings. Jean was united in marriage to Johnie Elmer Bell on September 25, 1946, in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Johnie served honorably in the Army Air Force from July of 1942 through November of 1945 during World War II (in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Campaign) and was a decorated veteran. Three children were born to this union: Raymond Dewell, Reginald (Regie) Keith and Lisa Annette.

In the early 1950’s, Johnie and Jean purchased a dairy farm north of Mountain Grove, Missouri and farmed there until 1966, when they then sold the farm and moved into Mountain Grove. Jean worked alongside her husband on the family farm and enjoyed cooking for her family, keeping a meticulously clean house, visiting with family and friends, and listening to bluegrass gospel music. After moving to town, Jean worked various retail jobs once the children were of school age. She retired from the bakery/deli at Town and Country in the late 1980’s after 18 years of working for Max Penner. Johnie and Jean remained married for more than 60 years until Johnie’s death on January 15, 2007.

A lifelong country girl, Jean enjoyed tending to her farm and in her later years a small vegetable garden, as well as canning fruits and vegetables. She was well-known for her delicious pies and beautiful flower gardens. With three children, eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren, she loved cooking for her family. In their retirement years, Johnie and Jean would often spend Friday nights visiting with friends at the Souder Store, eating delicious food and listening to good music.

Jean attended Southside Baptist Church in Mountain Grove for many years. She faithfully attended First Baptist Church of Central Florida in Ocoee with Regie and Linda’s family after relocating to Florida in 2009, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. As Jean’s health continued to decline, Regie and Linda’s family moved their membership closer to home and joined First Baptist Church of Groveland in 2012, where Jean was lovingly welcomed by the sweet ladies of Miss Dixie’s Sunday School Class.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters (Glenda, Artie, Ada, Judy, Joyce and Elzada) and brothers (Norman, Marvin, Jerry, Jackie and E. J.). Jean is survived by her son and daughter-in-law: Raymond and Glenda Bell, of Mountain Grove, and their four sons: Kelly, Chris, Jamie and Jeremy; son and daughter-in-law: Regie and Linda Bell, of Groveland, Florida, and their three sons and daughter-in-law: Ethan and Ashley, Jonathan and Matthew; daughter and son-in-law: Lisa and Tom Furgason, of Mount Vernon, and their daughter and son-in-law: Sarah and Stephen Ward of Ozark; fifteen great-grandchildren; one brother: Russell Curtis, of Ava; one sister: Louise, and her husband, Sam (“Arky”) Harp, of Aldrich, MO; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; a large number of nieces and nephews; in addition to a host of other extended family and friends in Missouri, as well as Florida, especially at the Lake County Adult Activity Center in Clermont, Florida, where Jean was a participant for the past four years (an adult daycare specializing in the loving care of those with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and memory needs).

Visitation:
Visitation

Memorial Contributions:
Lake County Adult Activity Center c/o the funeral home or Alzheimer’s Family Organization c/o the funeral home.