James McLean Bell

James McLean Bell died suddenly on March 17, 2007. He was born on November 10, 1927 in Columbus, Mississippi. He graduated from Stephen D. Lee High School in Columbus, Mississippi. James served in the U.S. Marine Corps for two years prior to attending Mississippi State, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha. During that time, he was in the U.S. Air Force R.O.T.C. and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May, 1952. James married his high school sweetheart, Betty Lydick on September 3, 1950. In 1953, James and Betty moved to Austin where he was a successful independent car dealer and businessman for the rest of his life. During that time, James was a State Director for the Texas Independent Automobile Dealers Association and a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church. James was an avid sportsman who traveled the world with his family and friends. James was preceded in death by his parents, Grace and Leon Bell, and brothers, Leon and William. He is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter and son-in-law Lilla and Tim Sullivan; son and daughter-in-law Jim and Suzanne Bell, and their four children, McLean, Trevor, Jackson and Lara; brother, Harvey and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 20, 2007 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress, Austin, Texas. Graveside service will be Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at 10:00 AM at Cook-Walden Memorial Hill, 14501 N. IH 35, Pflugerville, Texas. The Family requests donations to The Salvation Army in lieu of flowers. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com