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Billye Jean Bell

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Colorado State University University of New Mexico

Billye Bell Obituary

BILLYE JEAN BELL,July 24, 1937 to March 3, 2006, passed away after a nine-year battle with breast cancer. She is survived by husband, Richard Bean of Houston, TX; daughter Kathryn Gomez-Flaming, her husband Daryl of Houston, TX; son Keith Hodge of Albuquerque, NM; son Trey Hodge, his life partner Ellen Alberts of Anchorage, AK; step-daughter Megan Bean-Harvey, her husband Ben, grandson Sebastian Harvey of Starkville, MS; brother Corky Bell, his wife Mary, and nieces Stephanie and Elizabeth of Spring Branch, TX; brother Rod Bell, wife Sue of Tampa, FL; her 2 Birman cats, Rommel and Rachmaninoff; and lastly, her Arabian horses Khate and Madona. Billye's passion throughout her life was horses. She enjoyed competitive trail riding, horse drill teams, raising foals and any time spent seeing the world from a saddle. She was renowned for her cooking and made the best green chili stew, tacos, brownies, spare ribs and cinnamon cookies. She was a graduate of H.H. Arnold High School in Wiesbaden, Germany and attended Colorado State University. After raising her children she graduated as the top student in her X-Ray Technologist class and continued her education to become a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and earned her Bachelors from the University of New Mexico. She traveled throughout East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America and the USA teaching advanced ultrasound techniques. She also traveled Europe and the Mediterranean in her adventures. Billye's smile, humor and love will be missed by her family, many friends and past students. Billye's ashes will be spread on her beloved Hill Country ranch in a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, she encouraged donations to the Rosebuds Breast Cancer Support Group, 3316 University, Houston, TX 77005-3354.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Houston Chronicle on Mar. 7, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Billye Bell

15 Entries

gary anderson

March 2, 2021

Billye, I still miss you more than anything. It is just not far that I have been so lucky and lived so much longer than you did. We were the same age and had so much fun in Wiesbaden. I am so glad I got to see you again in Houston at one of our get togethers. I am still hanging in there at 83. You just never know. I didn't think I would make it to 70. You will always be in my dreams and I hope all of your kids are doing well. This has been a terrible year with all the virus problems.

Rowanne (Penny) Uselton

March 3, 2019

Billy and my path crossedseveral times in our life. First, we met at Scott AFB and saw we were both wearing the same printed skirt at the dance. A little overa year later, Billye ended up at H.H. Hap Arnold High School in Wiesbaden, Germany where I was already attending. Due to the fact there was little housing available for the Bells, Billy had to leave for school at 5:30 AM to go. When I found this out, and told my parents, we extended an invitation for Billye to stay with us in our 25 room home for the next six months. We lost contact until I accidentally saw an email from a forwarded email from Cancare (a cancer survivors group) and quite by Gods hand saw billyebell@.... The rest was history. I clicked on the email and got an answer within 24 hours. It was Billye! We met several times; was able to include her to join other classmates for reunions! Got to meet Richard and hear all about the Fredericksburg plans. She was still building a life! We are having a 64th Reunion in June and in Livingston, Texas. Wish she was here to be with us.

Sandy Russell

March 24, 2006

Billye was a true friend for over 50 years, I will truly miss her! She was even in the delivery room with me when my first child was born! I'm thankful she is no longer in pain and I know that she is finally at peace on her beloved ranch with all her "critters". Her family has my sincere sympathy.

Patricia Diozzi-Albertini (54)

March 21, 2006

My sincere sympathy is extended to Billye's family & loved ones.

Colonel & Mrs A R McCahan (USA-Ret)

March 8, 2006

We met again in San Antonio after too many years, and thoroughly enjoyed trying to catch up with Billye and Richard. We miss you now, but we'll see you again, I'm sure...

- Mac & Lyn

Gary (Andy) Anderson

March 8, 2006

Billye was my one true love in high school even though she was not really interested in anyone. We can be so thankful that we were able to reunite again after so many years. Billye was always a top class individual and will always be in a special place in my heart.

Sheryl Moynihan

March 8, 2006

May God Bless. We will miss you, Billye.

Gordon & Jackie Links

March 8, 2006

Billye has been a very good friend of ours for many years, ever since her husband Frank Hodge worked at the NCO Academy at Kirtland AFB in the 1970's. We had a very special friendship with her and her family. We continued to keep in touch with her ever since, every Christmas and during each year we comunicated by card and e-mail. Gordon and I will truly miss her. With Fondest Aloha

Ret. Lt Col Gordon R. and Jackie C Links, Ewa Beach Hawaii

Richard and Karen Wilbanks

March 8, 2006

We will miss you cousin. Although the family is far flung, and rarely see each other, I will charish the memories of 3 years ago at your beautiful ranch. God bless you Billye Jean.

Rod & Mary Sue Bell

March 7, 2006

Billye was a one-in-a-million gal. We will miss her so very much, as I know everyone who knew her will. She loved her horses, dogs & cats and loved riding with her sister-in-law, Mary. She had an interest in all that was going on around her and could name every nearby mountain range, every highway, every new project going on in town. She was a very caring and very capable person. At peace at last--no more pain. God bless you, Billye.

Jackie Broadway-Duren

March 7, 2006

May God grant each of you peace and comfort during this time of loss.

Laura Smith

March 7, 2006

She is free now and we will miss her so much. Billye's wish was that we take the time to celebrate her life and her affect on every life that she touched. I know she blessed mine. My family and I will always cherish the memories we had together with the horses, where she seemed to be free of all her burdens for a time. Watching her laugh and relate with the horses was such a wonderful sight. We consider ourselves blessed to have been witnesses to what she loved so much. My Family's prayers will continue for all of those that remain behind. Richard, Keith, Corky, Mary, Elizabeth , Stephanie and Sandy. We love you all.

Audrey Naegelin-Barger

March 7, 2006

I first met Billye through her best friend, Sandy, in the '80s and loved her from the start. Although we did not spend a lot of physical time together, we kept in touch over the years, enjoying pictures and stories of her horses, her new ranch she loved so much, her dogs and cats, her annual newsletters about family. Mostly her warmth and huge smile always made those around her feel included and appreciated. What a special spirit!

In a way, I am glad that I never saw her sick. Because ... I have her bright smiling face in my mind's memory forever.

Keep on "truckin'" Billye ... 'cause I know you are!

Fondly,

Audrey

Stephanie Turner

March 7, 2006

We will miss and love her always. She is in a better place now. Hopefully she is with Tzarena now for the best trail ride ever.

Stewart Niefield, MD

March 7, 2006

My condolences to Richard and the rest of the family on their loss. I was always impressed with Ms. Bell's courage and dignity in dealing with her illness.

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