M. Austine Wright "Steen" Bell

(Asbury Park Press)

M. AUSTINE WRIGHT BELL "STEEN"
WHOSE DAUGHTER LIVES IN JACKSON
M. Austine Wright Bell "Steen", of Delanco, born Jan. 31, 1924, died Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. Although Austine had been living in Delanco for more than 60 years, she was a Texan through and through. A spitball of fire, her presence was twice that of her stature, and come Sunday, she'd be rooting for the Cowboys. Always self-reliant, there's nothing she couldn't make herself. On her sewing machine did everything from alter jeans to make bridal dresses. With her crochet needles, she made blankets, Christmas stockings and every child, grandchild and great-grandchild came home in one of her outfits. And after her husband passed, she picked up his tools and could fix anything in the house. Never with idle hands, she could often be found tending to her perfectly manicured lawn, taking a ride on her bicycle, enjoying time with the Delanco Women's and Republican clubs, where she'd usually bring her famous potato salad, or simply bowling a game with the local leagues. Always filled with a love for children, she was fortunate enough to work in the lunch room at the Walnut St. School in Delanco for 16 years. Never one to forget her roots, she was always proud of her native heritage with the Choctaw tribe. Steen would need a pretty big reason to leave her home of Paris, Texas. That reason turned out to be a young soldier named Olie who followed her into a movie theater, and shortly after won her over. A lock of her hair kept him safe during World War II. And upon his return, he brought her to Delanco, where their 41 years of marriage were blessed with their children, Patricia and husband Larry Nutt of Delanco, Jeanne and husband George Traughber of Cinnaminson, and Terri and husband Bill Roth of Jackson, and again with their grandchildren, Scott and wife Sherri, Staci and husband George, Kelly and husband Wayne, Erin and husband Ray, Bill, and Ali, and great-grandchildren, Taylor, Lexi, Elizabeth, Adyn and Hunter. After Olie's passing, a high school reunion reacquainted her with her childhood sweetheart, George Stell "Buster" of Ft. Worth, Texas.
Come celebrate 85 Texan years from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16 and 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17 until the service at 11 a.m. at the Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside. Interment will be in Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the MS Society, 1 Reed St., Suite 1220, Philadelphia, PA 19147.