Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Lettie Grace Bell, passed away on Monday, June 5, 2017 at the age of 95. Her chair is empty and our hearts are broken. She is free from the physical pain and is now in the presence of Jesus and her loved ones in Heaven. Lettie was born on March 16, 1922. She was delivered by a midwife in a house located in the middle of a cotton field in Alberton, Tennessee. She was one of 12 children born to Grover and Ada Lewis. She also had 6 step brothers and sisters. Mom was of the Great Depression era… living in a 2 room house. Her dad was a deputy sheriff and her mother was the telephone operator. She worked in the cotton fields of Tennessee. In 1942 mom worked at a war plant in Tennessee making 155 mm shells. In 1943 she worked at a torpedo station in Keyport, WA. building the main engines for torpedoes. She moved to the Tri Cities in 1949 and has lived here 68 years. Mom was a military wife for 20+ years and she loved America. She prayed for our leaders daily. One of her favorite scriptures was 1 Timothy 7:1-5. She wrote to several Presidents and was thrilled when she received letters back from them. Mom loved the Lord and found comfort in reading from the Bible and inspirational books by Billy Graham. She especially loved her BIG family and was so proud of each and every one of them. Mom welcomed anyone into her home. You entered as friends and became family. She loved to have fun and her smile was contagious. She was well known as cookie Grandma. Mom enjoyed teaching children's Sunday school for 30+ years at Kennewick Baptist Church and she attended Bible Study Fellowship in the 1970's. Mom was a prayer warrior. She had a very long prayer list, that included her family, and she faithfully prayed over it every night. Mom was a volunteer at Kennewick General Hospital (TRIOS) from 2000 - 2010. She absolutely loved helping people in the ER Room and working with the staff of KGH. She was thrilled when her son, Archie volunteered with her. Mom was loved and admired so very much by her family. Everyone helped her when and as they could. Some were blessed to give extra time to her care in recent years. The family can't express their appreciation enough to Mary Walker and David Henderson for their devotion and commitment to keeping mom safe and healthy. You are her angels. Lettie is lovingly remembered by her eight children: Archie Judkins (Margie); Mary Walker; James Judkins (Lori); Susan Vinson; Brenda Kessie (Ken); Billie Sue Bray; Sam Bell (Kathy) and William R. Bell III (Susie). She was deeply loved by her 19 Grandchildren, 31 Great Grandchildren and 5 Great, Great Grandchildren and beloved nephews, Kenny Lewis (Marilou) and Dan Davenport. She is also survived by her siblings: Sarah Lindsey, Bobby Joe Lewis, Charlie Lewis, John Lewis, Lennie Maness and Martha Wilson as well her numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, William R. Bell Jr, Grandson Benjamin Hart Judkins; her parents and 11 siblings. The family wishes to thank the many doctors and the Tri City Hospice for their loving care for our mom and our family these past weeks. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tri Cities Hospice. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Center 9353 W. Clearwater Ave. Kennewick, WA on Friday, June 9 at 1:00 PM with burial to follow at Desert Lawn Memorial Park in Kennewick. A viewing will be offered from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM prior to the service.