Ramona Bell

RAMONA BELL

Iowa City

Ramona Lois Bell, 85, longtime resident of rural Iowa City, died Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, at Crestview Nursing and Rehab Center in West Branch. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City (Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect for streets near the church), with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Ramona's memory.

Online condolences may be sent for her family through the Web at www.gayandciha.com.

Ramona Lois Marshall was born Dec. 11, 1929, in Iowa City, the daughter of Alvin E. and Mable C. (Coon) Marshall. She attended country school near Riverside in her youth, and later Lone Tree High School. She was united in marriage to Clifford Bell on Dec. 8, 1948, in Iowa City. For a few years the couple farmed near Ainsworth before moving to their farm near Iowa City in 1953 which they still own.

She had worked at the Iowa City Randall's Grocery Store and was the "Avon Lady" for a number of years. But most of all she loved being on the farm; her gardens, flowers, the neighborhood clubs, dancing with her husband in the dance halls of Eastern Iowa, and her family!

Ramona lived to love and care for her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; she was in her glory with them.

Her family includes her husband of 66 years, Clifford; their children, Larry E. Bell (Sandy) of West Branch, Kathy S. Daedlow (Alan) of Tipton, Clifford W. Bell of Downey, and Bonnie L. Manary of West Branch; eight grandchildren, Darcy Wall (Scot), Danyel Glazebrook (Brady), Rande Bell, Michelle Zear (Chad), Ryan Daedlow (Dionne), Nathan Daedlow (Emily), Stacy Moore and Megan Manary; and 18 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Maynard, Bernard "Bud" and Harold Marshall; and sisters, Wilma Garwood and Dorothy Evans.