Connie Bell

Wonace "Connie" A. Bell Wonace Allene Bell, 87, Connie to her family and friends, of Coalinga and later Brentwood California, passed away on August 27, 2014. Born May 8, 1927 in Success, Arkansas, Connie is the eldest of the four children born to the late Silas and Lala Brown Duff. She moved to Coalinga during her youth. She married Fred McLemore (deceased) and together they had two children, Broox McLemore Jarrett and Cecil McLemore. She later married Marvin Bell and continued to live in Coalinga. She is survived by two sisters, Myra (Albert) Ambrozic, and Yvonne Simms; her two children, Broox McLemore Jarrett and Cecil (Sharon) McLemore; four grandchildren, Lisa (Tim) Blair Meyers, Kevin McLemore (Beverly), James Woods, Michelle (Aaron) McLemore Minton; and seven great-grandchildren, Christian & Cameron Meyers, Jhonna & Kyle McLemore, and Brittany, Madison & AJ Minton. Her parents Silas and Lala Duff, brother John Greer, and husband Marvin Bell all precede her in death. Though she never made it beyond the 8th grade, Connie later became a very successful business woman, owning and operating two business in Coalinga, the Drive-In Theatre, and The Flour Pot-which she lost during the 1984 Coalinga Earthquake. She went on to work and later retire from Thrifty Drug. She also served as the Treasurer for the City of Coalinga during the mid-70s. That beautiful smile and welcoming countenance drew people to her, and she was very well known and loved by all who met her! A devout Christian, Connie believed in helping those less fortunate, and in doing so brought many souls to the Lord. Her passion for family and friends, nature, gardening, animals, reading, cooking, etc., all live on today through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 1-8 pm on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at the Oak Park Hills Chapel in Walnut Creek, CA. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 3, 2014, at 10:00 am, also at the Oak Park Hills Chapel in Walnut Creek. On Thursday, September 4th at 1:00 pm, there will be graveside services held at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Coalinga, CA. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either the Cure Alzheimers Fund or the American Cancer Society. Cure Alzheimer's Fund 34 Washington Street, Suite 200 Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 American Cancer Society PO Box 5432, Washington, DC 55235. Visitation Tuesday, September 2, 2014 01:00 pm-08:00 pm Funeral Home Graveside Service Thursday, September 4, 2014 01:00 pm Pleasant Valley Coalinga Cemetery 40054 Calaveras Ave Coalinga CA 93210 Funeral Service Wednesday, September 3, 2014 10:00 am OAK PARK HILLS CHAPEL 3111 N. MAIN ST. Walnut Creek CA 94597