Bright, Nellie Jane

Nellie Jane Bright departed this life Aug. 15, 2013, surrounded by her family at The Ed and Joan Hemphill Hospice Unit, St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Services will be held at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 520 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, on Aug. 24 at 1 p.m., officiated by Minister Richard Reed. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. before the services.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Leroy Bright; daughter, Sandra Reed (Richard); son, Allen Leroy Bell II (Danita); five grandchildren, Craig and Kelly Reed, both of Cedar Rapids, Solon Bell (Candida) of Phoenix, Ariz., Alynsia Bell of Seattle, Wash., and Royce Bell of Las Vegas, Nev.; six great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Pearl Akers-Lawson and Floyd Akers; stepfather, John Lawson; a daughter, Sharilyn June Bell; five brothers, Edward, Floyd, Donald, Charles and Harley; and four sisters, Evelyn, Marian, Doris and Bernice.

Nellie was born Jan. 30, 1924, in Brookfield, Mo. She married Allen Leroy Bell in August 1941. Three children came of this union: Sandra, Sharilyn and Allen. The family moved to Cedar Rapids in the 1950s.

Nellie later married Leroy Bright and moved to Columbus, Ohio, where she resided until she moved back to Cedar Rapids to reunite with her family. She remained in Cedar Rapids until her home going.

Donations can be made to the Ed and Joan Hemphill Hospice Unit at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Please sign the online guest book for Nellie at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Aug. 18, 2013 in The Gazette