Gay V. Bell

Surrounded by her four children, Gay Verlyn Bell peacefully joined her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 29th, 2022. She is survived by her four children; Charlie and his wife Mary, Bethann and her husband Jeff, Tanya; Tiffany and her husband Doug: sister Patsy; 32 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and a multitude of friends, all of whom held a special place in her heart.

Known by most as Grandma B, by her friends as Gay Bell, by those the closest to her as Mom, and on rare occasion as Gay Verlyn when she was being playfully ornery, Gay was born on January 7, 1934. She was raised in Ft. Wayne by the late Garland and DeNeil Myers and graduated from Southside High School in 1952. A skilled bookkeeper, Gay and her daughter owned and operated Golden Rule Bookkeeping. For decades she kept the books for many area businesses and restaurants before finally retiring to spend time enjoying her family.

Gay had a love for cooking and could often be found whipping up new and different recipes in her kitchen. She loved hosting big dinner parties that would fill her entire home. She would even take doors off their frames to make more room! While she loved to cook, her true delight was weaving together the sense of love and community that blossomed when others would gather to try her newest recipe. It was never about the food; it was about leading a life that imitated Christ through her service for others, which she always did with compassion and unyielding acceptance. It was not uncommon for her to invite those who were alone for the holidays into her home for a meal, visit the sick or shut-in, or offer car rides to the disabled. She spent a lifetime putting the needs of others in front of her own and cared for both her mother and father in their final years. She cared, sacrificed, and gave for the ones she loved the most.

The family has decided that they will not be keeping her Taco-Ring recipe, however.

Grandma B was also spunk in its purest form. Her 50+ grandchildren kept her young and our beloved Grandma B could take it as well as she could dish it out. While you could find her in a bible study-group one night, the next you might see her in the front row of a heavy metal rock concert (as she wanted to see her lead singer and guitarist grandsons performing in their “authentic element”). She had a wittiness and a sense of humor that stayed with her until the very end. After experiencing a near death medical episode shortly before her passing, she proclaimed from her hospital bed, “Well, I guess that was just my dress rehearsal!”

The family rejoices in the fact that Gay has finally made it home to the place she most wanted to be, right next to her “Good Lord,” and the memories and lessons she has left will be treasured until the day we can all reunite at the table of the Lord. There is no doubt that Gay will have a glorious spread waiting for each and every one of us.

We all love you Grandma B.