Ceola Faye 'Shorty' Bell

Funeral Services for Ceola Faye Bell will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday December 3, 2013 at New Life Wesleyan Church with Echo Klaproth officiating. Burial will take place in Mount Pisgah following the service. Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00p.m., Monday December 2, 2013 at Gillette Memorial Chapel. Ceola Bell, age 82, of Gillette, WY passed away at her home on November 27, 2013. Ceola Ruby, "Shorty" was born January 9th 1931, to Jesse Donald and Hazel (Groves) Ruby. She was the last one out of 5 children; Dola, Dale, Max, Wyoma. She grew up about 6 miles east of the Pumpkin Buttes and lived north of the 4 mile creek, until her folks bought the Farman place. The house was a 6 or 7 room house; the kids thought that it was a mansion. Each of the kids had to milk 4 cows twice a day. Her dad took the cream in 5 gal. cans to town and put them on the train, and sent them to Omaha, NE. When Ceola was little her dad sold a pony for $25.00, then he went and bought $25.00 worth of candy for the kids. Ceola helped outside the home on the ranch and learned how to drive a tractor at the age of 8. She attended country school at the 4 Mile Creek school where her sister Dola was a teacher at one time. During WWII she helped with the farming on the Ruby place, since her brothers Dale and Max were gone to war. Ceola graduated from Campbell County High School in 1949. She met Clarance Ray Bell after graduation and they married July 17th 1952. Ray was drafted to the war shortly after they were married. He was sent to California for basic training while Ceola stayed here to work. After basic training he was sent to Virginia, where Ceola traveled for the first time alone, by train, to join him. During his Army years they were also stationed in Texas and Louisiana. After the service they came back to Wyoming and did ranch work for the Ham Krause, Bud Hayden, and Floyd Ray Ranch's. During this time they added two additions to the family William Russell on January 13, 1958 and Steven Ray "Steve" on November 19, 1962. In 1964 they leased the Ruby ranch where they lived and worked until 1971 when they bought the Antelope Creek ranch. In 1973 Ray and Ceola, with the help of Russell and Steve, started Bell's Restoration. In 1974 Ray and Ceola started remodeling the original homestead house. In March 1982, Steve and a friend Kenny Mitts were killed in a plane accident. Russell was living in Gillette at the time, where he then moved back to the ranch to help run things. Ray, Ceola and Russell then started to expand Bell's Restoration. In the mid 80's Ceola started raising goats. Around the Ft. Collins sale barn, they started calling her the goat lady. She used them to raise bum lambs, for many years. They traveled to Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand. They enjoyed going to Las Vegas for the NFR and PBR. The most enjoyment they had was going to auctions. They sought model T parts, buttons, bells and teacups, and many more items. She was a member and president of the Campbell County Woolgrowers Aux. When Russell and Steve were in 4-H Ceola went to 4-H camp for many years as a chaperon, and assisted with the riflery program. She was also a chaperon at State Fair for many years. Ray and Ceola also actively supported their granddaughters in 4-H by attending numerous county and state fairs.In the late 90's Ray and Ceola decided to semi retire to Arizona. They bought a house, started to plant trees, and fix things up. In 2002 Ray and Ceola celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Ray later passed away in 2004 from a heart attack. Ceola moved back to Wyoming, though she enjoyed traveling back to Arizona where she stayed with her brother Dale and his wife Marge in Beaver Dam. They had breakfast parties at Fred and Mary Ann Odekoven's, went to garage sales, and much more. She had lots of family and friends around her. Ceola was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago. She has fought with everything she could. She went to Doctors in Denver and Gillette. Through her struggles with her weekly cancer treatments she really enjoyed the nurses and the people she had met at the cancer center and all of the support they gave her. Two years ago Ceola became a member of the LOL (little ole lady's) luncheon club, they would meet the first Friday of every month. This past fall she went with Russell every day to haul hay. Ceola could still drive the tractor to the different bunches of hay so Russell could load them. They both enjoyed the time spent together. She loved spending time with her family and friends.Ceola is survived by her son Russell (Kathy) Bell of Gillette, WY; her brothers Max Ruby of Cody, WY; Dale (Marge) Ruby of Gillette, WY; her sisters Wyoma Brown of Gillette, WY; Dola Ellis of White Salmon, WA and her six granddaughters, Wendi Bell, Lisa(Bret) Fauskee, Jaci (Adam)Mathes, Christina(Andy) Eaton, Kim (Phil) Bell and Billie Bell; along with 1 great granddaughter, Alisha Bell; 3 great grandsons, Cole Fauskee, Carter Fauskee, and Anthony Eaton. Ceola is preceded in death by her husband Ray Bell; her son Steve Bell and her parents Jesse and Hazel Ruby.Ceola found out how old the 22 Rifles at 4-H camp were and decided that in lieu of flowers she would like donations sent to the Ceola Bell memorial 4-H camp rifle fund. Memorials and Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Gillette memorial Chapel 210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be sent via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.comFuneral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716