Thelmae Bell

July 2, 1920 - August 18, 2017

Thelmae Bell, age 97, of Keota, died on Friday, August 18, 2017, at Keota Health Care Center in Keota.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at Holy Trinity Parish - St. Mary Catholic Church in Keota, with Rev. Charles Fladung officiating. Burial will follow at Keota Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 21, 2017, at Powell Funeral Home in Keota, with a wake service at 4:00 p.m.

A memorial fund has been established for Holy Trinity Parish, the Keota Veteran's Memorial or Washington County Hospice. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Keota is caring for Thelmae and her family. See www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Thelmae was born July 2, 1920, in Chataignier, La., to Edwin and Rita (Rozas) Fontenot. She graduated from Chataignier High School and moved to Lake Charles, La. She worked as a telephone operator and in the gift shop at the Majestic Hotel where she met Jim Bell in January of 1940. They were married July 2, 1940, in Keota, Iowa, with Father C.S. Kempker officiating. She was a member of Holy Trinity Parish - St. Mary's Catholic Church, a Charter Member of T.T.T. Chapter AV Keota, enjoyed golf, bridge, fishing and working in her yard.

Survivors include five children: Karen Bennett of Denver, Colo.; Douglas (Gailen) Bell, of Gardnerville, Nev.; Patrick (Maryann) Bell, of Keota, Iowa; Robert (Paula) Bell of Keota, Iowa; Curtis (Jinger) Bell, of Keota, Iowa; one brother, Eldon Fontenot; 19 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jim; four sisters: Sybil Fruge, Berna Maux, Ellis Lee, Belle Cowart; one brother, Mervin Fontenot; son-in-law, Rex Bennett; and great-grand twins James and Isabell Schwartz