Richard Lee Bell

Richard Lee Bell, of Dowagiac, MI passed away at his home on January 6, 2010. Richard's life began on September 11, 1943 in Dowagiac, the son of Ward L. Bell and Betty (Mott) Bell Wenger. He served his country proudly in the United States Navy from 1960 until 1964 as a Boatswain's Mate on the USS Delta. He was formerly employed by Dowagiac Steel Tank and later by K & M Machine Fabricating in Cassopolis, retiring in 1990. Richard was a member of the Dowagiac Moose Lodge #933 since 1975. He was united in marriage to Eunice (Hartzell) Keesler on December 31, 1980 at the First Christian Church in Dowagiac. His loving family includes his wife Eunice Bell of Dowagiac, step father Kenneth Wenger of Dowagiac, children Jason (Kerri) Bell of Kansas City, MO and Robert (Lynley) Bell of Port St. Lucie, FL, step children Denise (Dennis) Juday of Dowagiac and Daryl (Valerie) Keesler of Dowagiac, grandchildren Jeremy and Jordan Juday, Madalyn Bell, Stefeni Tormanen, and Alexis Keesler, sisters Kathy (Ted) Hoekstra of Dowagiac, Sherri (Craig) Pollock of Decatur, Lisa (James) Padgett of Lakeland, FL, and Sharon (Lloyd) Tabbert of Clearwater, FL and step brother Willie (Jackie) McCraner of Niles. He is preceded in death by his parents Ward Bell and Betty Wenger, brothers Robert Wenger, Kevin Wenger and David Wenger. Family and friends will gather between 1-3 p.m. on Saturday January 9th at the Yazel & Clark Chapel with funeral services led by Reverend Brian Hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Decatur immediately following the visitation. Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Family and friends are encouraged to share a memory of Richard by signing his memory book at www.yazel-clark.com.