Loyd Henry Bell

Loyd Bell, 95, passed from this life on July 23, 2016. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, at Johnson’s Funeral Home, officiated by Sheree Harris of First United Methodist Church, where he was a member since 1947. Loyd was born June 24, 1921 in Sherwood, Texas to Thomas J. Bell and Lorena Harris Bell. He served as a plumber in the US Army Corp of Engineers during WW ll, teaching sanitation regulations and supervising projects at bases throughout the US, the most notable being the building of the Army base at Alamogardo, NM. Loyd married Mildred “Mickye” Fowler on July 19, 1941 in Water Valley, Texas. Together, Loyd and Mickye established Bell Plumbing in 1954 where Loyd retired in 1984. Loyd had three pastime passions, two of which were hunting and collecting cowboy memorabilia. An avid hunter, Loyd was a charter member of the San Angelo Gun Club and enjoyed hunting trips along the Continental Divide in Colorado and to Alaska. He began collecting spurs on his eighth birthday when his father gave him a pair of spurs, which are a part of a vast collection today. Over the years, he expanded his focus to include humane style horse bits and specialized in collecting Buermann Star Steel Silver spurs and bits. Loyd’s third pastime passion was volunteering at San Angelo State Park. Bell’s Trailhead and Bell’s Point are for visitors to enjoy. A granite marker invites park visitors to “reflect…and know peace with God, Man and Nature” as they enjoy the cactus garden and rocky point overlooking Turkey Creek. Loyd was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Mickye; his daughter, Gayle Harding; his sister Thelma Lassiter; and his brothers Lester and Melvin Bell. Survivors include two great-grandchildren, Jacob and Kaylie Harding; one sister-in-law, Peggy Fowler, four nieces Connie Loring, Sherry Crespin, Lorena Muzquiz, and Judy Spicer; one nephew, Stephen Bell; and many special friends. Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com