Florence Marie Bell

March 16, 1927 - April 27, 2019

Services for Florence Marie Bell were held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Visitation started after 1:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Rick Gates of the Crossroads Church in Perry provided words of comfort. Honorary bearers were: Florence’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Casket bearers were: Ryan Carter, Skylar Bell, John Hansman, Lance McFarland, Nicholas Cone and Bob Moses. Recorded music selected was “The Old Rugged Cross’” and How Great Thou Art.” Interment took place at Richland Township Cemetery in Guthrie County, Iowa. Following the services at the cemetery was a luncheon 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 & 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 CAN and a 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 & 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 (11/9/11), son Charles (1/31/13), sister Estella Gleam and son-in-law Loren Gibson. Florence is survived by her son John Elmer Jr. of Madrid, IA; grandchildren: Jackie Bell, Sereina McFarland (Lance), Terry Bell, Bill Gibson, Laura Bell, Corrina Devilbiss (Harry), Donald Gibson, Ryan Carter (Alysha), Joshua Bell, Jason Bell, Jessica Hansman (John), 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.