Neil Bell

Neil B. Bell, Celebration of Life

Neil was born on Sunday, November 22, 1925 at the family home in Arkansas City, Kansas to Roy and Helen Bell.  His older brother Gene was two and a half years old when he was born and his younger brother Denny was born seven years later.  As a boy he enjoyed playing baseball, marbles, cards, and in the evening he listened to his favorite radio program, The Lone Ranger.  Growing up during the depression, he only purchased necessary items.  Neil has always considered ice cream a necessity.  He worked in a grocery store near the family home.  In high school his plans were to graduate and then join the Navy, like his brother Gene.  Neil was a signalman on the destroyer USS Charles J. Badger for two years in the South Pacific and received a Purple Heart.  After the war he went home and attended the Arkansas City Junior College and then Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State University, and graduated with a degree in advertising.

He moved to Dallas, Texas to work for ISC Financial and met Maudie Tice at a dance and they married three months later on April 29, 1953 in Dallas. After living in Louisiana, Florida and South Carolina, they settled in their forever home in Fairway, Kansas in 1963. They’ve always loved God, church, family, and friends.  After retiring from Capital Federal as a residential appraiser, they delivered meals on wheels, drove cancer patients to the hospital for their treatments, and enjoyed square dancing for over 25 years.     Neil’s favorite hobby was taking photos of his family and vacations. He also collected coins.  He kept everything very organized, especially his photos and coins.  Also after retiring Neil played golf for about three years before giving up.  He liked listening to big band music as a youth and country music as an adult.  He loved dogs, travel, chocolates, and the color yellow.

Neil is survived by wife Maudie, their three children Ken (Mary), Vicki McQuain (Kevin), and Troy(Laura), 8 grandchildren (Ryan, Kyle, Aaron, Nick, Jonah, Crystal, Savannah, and Marlee), and 3 great grandchildren (NoraBell, Gillian, and Elias).  Through the years Neil and Maudie were active members of Baptist Churches, most recently Nall Avenue Baptist.  Neil loved “The Lord’s Prayer” and we know he’s in Heaven but still in our hearts and memories.

Neil adored his wife Maudie, deeply loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  He enjoyed meeting people and sharing stories of family, friends, and travel.   Neil and Maudie moved to Westchester Village of Lenexa in 2018.  The Family wishes to thank the staff for the compassion and care Neil received recently and for the continued care for Maudie.

Many years ago Neil and Maudie made funeral plans that included cremation and permanent storage of their remains in what they called their “condo”, which is located in this building.  Neil requested no flowers, just memories.  The family found the following poem in Neil’s funeral file.  We don’t know where it came from but it was special to him and sure he wanted us to share it with you.

Neil and Maudie moved to  Westchester Village of Lenexa in 2018.  The Family wishes to Thank the staff for the compassion and care Neil received recently and for the continued care for Maudie.

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.

I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when my life is done.

I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,

Of happy times and laughing times, and bright and sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun

Of happy memories that I leave when my life is done.