Bell, Clara D. (Downs) 1865-1953

BELL, DOWNS, CLYDE, MCINTYRE, TOPE, BERKEN, CHRISTENSEN

Posted By: Jill McCarville (email)
Date: 4/14/2014 at 14:44:41

Funeral Services Held Friday For Mrs. Clara D. Bell

Funeral services were held Friday afternoon in the Bradley Funeral home for Mrs. Clara D. Bell, 88, sister of Henry L. Downs of Cresco. Mrs. Bell, who suffered a paralysis at an early age from which she never recovered, died in the Cresco hospital early Wednesday morning.

The Rev. Robert R. Ahrens, pastor of the Immanuel Lutheran church, conducted the services and burial was in the Oak Lawn cemetery. Six nephews of Mrs. Bell served as pallbearers.

Mrs. Bell had made her home recently in the Good Samaritan rest home in Cresco. She was admitted to the Cresco hospital October 11, following a heart attack from which she never recovered.

Mrs. Bell, the former Clara D. Downs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin S. Downs, was born in Hawkeye, October 9, 1865. She received her education in the Hawkeye schools and was married to William H. Bell at Cedar Rapids. Because of Mr. Bell's occupation as contractor decorator, the couple lived in many of this country's larger cities, including Saint Louis, Omaha, Seattle, Walla Walla, Washington, and Victoria, British Columbia. It was in Walla Walla where Mr. Bell died.

Following the death of Mrs. Bell's husband, she went to Seattle to make her home, living there until six years ago when she came to Cresco. She lived in the Birtwhistle Rest home for about three years and then went to the home of her brother, Charles, in West Union. About a year later she returned to the Birtwhistle home and when the Good Samaritan home opened she moved there.

Surviving Mrs. Bell, besides her brother, Henry L. Downs, are three half-brothers and five half-sisters, including Mrs. Frank Clyde of Phillipsburg, Missouri,Mrs. Alice McIntyre of Hawkeye, Mrs. Elmer Tope of Houston, Texas, Mrs. Hattie Berken and Mrs. Morris Christensen of West Union, Garfield Downs and Bert Downs of Hawkeye and Judson of West Union.

Preceding Mrs. Bell in death, in addition to her husband, were two children, both of whom died in infancy.

The Times Plain Dealer October 28, 1953 Page 1B
Transcribed by Jill McCarville from the files of Janice Sowers

Oak Lawn Cemetery
 

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