Genevia P. Bell

Genevia P. Bell, of Brownwood, Texas, but most recently resided in Gonzales, Texas for the last eight years passed away at home surrounded by her family and went to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020.

A graveside celebration of life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday Sept. 11, 2020, at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Brown County, Texas, near May, TX.  

Visitation will take place Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, at Heartland Funeral Home, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Genevia was born to Ellis Ashburn and Marie Irene Ashburn on Sept.14, 1927 in Best, Texas.  She had three sisters; Juanita Griffin, Armida Ashburn, and half-sister Donnell McDaniel. She attended school in Pyote, Texas where she participated in sports such as volleyball and tennis. One of her biggest accomplishments in high school was making it to the state tennis meet. After graduation from high school in 1946, she took a job at a pharmacy working as a cashier and soda machine operator in Monahans, Texas. She then took a job at Rattlesnake Air Force Base in Pyote, Texas and worked as a telephone operator.

Genevia married Clarence W. Bell on March 12, 1949. Clarence and Genevia had 5 children, Ginger Andersen, Patricia Thompson, Darwin Bell, Nancy Sartin, and Karen Kirk-Speck. She had 14 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Genevia and Clarence lived in Odessa, Texas, Long Beach, California, Monahans, Texas, Wickett, Texas, Big Lake, Texas and moved to their place of retirement at North Lake Brownwood, Texas. After the loss of her beloved husband in 1998, she moved to Brownwood, and in 2012 she made her home in Gonzales, Texas.

Genevia dedicated her life to being the very best homemaker, to taking care of all of her grandchildren at one time or another. She was affectionately called Granny Bell by almost everyone who knew her, family and friends alike. She was the very best role model of how a lady should act and she was never judgmental. She could always find a way to comfort you, even when no one else could and modeled the way to treat your spouse. She also loved to quilt and found so much joy in quilting for family and friends. Granny loved BIG, and serving the Lord was of utmost importance to her. She participated in mission friends, taught vacation bible school, was active in GA’s, WMU, and made it her life’s mission to fulfill the Great Commission. Genevia never met a stranger and would so boldly share her faith and the love of Jesus with anyone and everyone. She never hesitated to ask “Did you know Jesus loves you?” Genevia was a member of many churches over the years, First Baptist Church Gonzales, Texas is where she held her last membership. She will be greatly missed by all that knew her because she loved them with all that was in her.

She is survived by 5 children; Ginger Anderson, Patricia Thompson and husband Jody; Darwin Bell and wife Pat; Nancy Sartin and husband Vern; and Karen Kirk-Speck as well as her numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Genevia absolutely adored children, so in lieu of flowers, the family request's memorials to be sent to Texas Elks Grants for Children or Midland Children’s Rehabilitation Center.