L. Z. Bell (Mansfield)'s Obituary
LZ Bell, son of Elza and Julie Ann Bradshaw Bell, was born January 16, 1931 near Bertha, Missouri and departed this life on January 18, 2015 in Cox South Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri at the age of eighty-four years and two days.
He was united in marriage to Geneva Hicks on June 25, 1973 and they spent 34 years together before her passing on November 8, 2007.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, sister, Vina Buckbee and brother, Johnnie Bell. LZ is survived by three sons, Rodney Bell and wife, Kathy of Mansfield, Missouri, Eric Bell and wife, Alice of Vanzant, Missouri, Carl Gene Bell of Seymour, Missouri; daughter, Sue Ascher of Florreston, Illinois; step-daughter, Linda Kincaid of Hartville, Missouri; fourteen grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; three brothers, Marvin Bell and Paul Bell both of Mtn. Grove, Missouri, Dale Bell of Hartville, Missouri; two sisters, Judith Doughitt of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Reba Driskell of Gentryville, Missouri; several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. He was born in the Bertha, Missouri area and attended Turkey Flat School. He worked on the farm as a child and then logging and saw mill work in his teenage years. He went to work for Green Giant Corporation in Dayton, Washington and transferred to the Rochelle, Illinois plant in 1965 and had also worked for a while at Morgan Die Manufacturing in Rochelle. From 1966 until his retirement in 1990 he worked for Chrysler Corporation in Belvidere, Illinois. In 2005 he moved to Mtn. Grove to be near his family. LZ had made a profession of faith in Christ many years ago and was baptized at the Westside Freewill Baptist Church. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and Auto Workers Union #168. In his spare time he loved fishing, playing with his dog, Buddy and spending time with his family. LZ was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and accomplishment and will cherish the many wonderful times we had together.
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