Marianne Helen Bell Bates

Marianne Helen Bell Bates lived a full life for 85 years and passed away in Memphis, TN on 7/11/2014. She was born in Mt. Vernon, IL on 6/16/1929, the daughter of George and Anne Burgin. Marianne graduated from high school in St. Louis and became a registered nurse after completing nursing school at St. Louis University in 1951. She married Kermit Bell in June of 1952 at a ceremony at the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Chapel, United States Military Academy at West Point. As a military wife, she lived in Japan and Germany, and traveled extensively. As a nurse, she worked at the VA Hospital and retired as an ICU Nurse from Methodist Hospital in Memphis. As an artist and art lover, she excelled at oil painting and imparted her love of art to her children. She enjoyed being a volunteer for the Pink Palace Crafts Fair, the Wonders Exhibits and the Red Cross. She served many years as the president of Memphis Ecumenical Singles Adults (MESA). She was a communicant and an usher at St. Ann Catholic Church in Bartlett, TN, and volunteered at St. Ann Catholic School. She was committed to making the world a better place for the people in her life and she was dedicated to being a loving mother to her two sons and Grandmother to four grandchildren. She described herself as 'a country girl who found doors opened and a whole new world to see.' She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Bates and her parents. She is survived by her sister, Genevieve Burgin Forsyth, her sons, Jim Bell (Debbie) and Jeff Bell, and her grandchildren, Katherine Bell Carreon (Domingo), Patrick Bell, Braedon Bell and Christian Bell, and her great grandchildren, Charlotte and Domingo Carreon. Visitation will be at 10 am, on 7/17/2014 at Baue Funeral Home in O'Fallon, MO, with the Rite of Committal with Final Commendations at 11 am on 7/17/14 at St. Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org).