Born November 7, 1923 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Bernice and Thomas Parker, Ida suffered many losses in
her first few years of life. Her baby brother, Eugene died within a few days of his birth in 1924 and a
second baby brother, Edgar, born May 6, 1925 died of tuberculosis on August 21, 1925. Ida's mother,
Bernice, died of tuberculosis on July 14, 1925. When Ida was about 4 years old her father and she moved
to the Los Angeles area where Ida spent most of her young childhood being raised by Aunts and
Stepmothers.
On November 2, 1942 she married her high school sweetheart, Lyle Bell. Soon they welcomed two little
girls, Judith Arlove was born June 28, 1944 and Janet Marilynn was born July 6, 1945. Ida became roommother,
Brownie leader, and supporter of all of Judy and Janet's activities. She became a cake decorating
expert creating doll cakes, wedding cakes, birthday cakes and for the four years of Janet's high school
yearbook staff class, Ida decorated the Awards Night cake to look exactly like the yearbook covers for each
year. She proudly made both Judy and Janet's wedding cakes. Ida was also an accomplished and prolific
crocheter - making doilies, afghans, a beautiful custom, hand crochet blue dress for Judy, and detailed
crochet "Last Supper" table runners for a very few special people - each one taking several months to
make.
Off and on throughout her married life, Ida worked part time jobs. As a sales clerk, candy maker, proof
reader for a marketing publication, and as a teacher's aide. They lived in the San Gabriel Valley until Lyle's
retirement. Then they became "gypsies" living in Barstow, CA, Landers, CA, Pahrump, NV, Las Vegas, NV,
and Yucaipa, CA. For six years they spent May through September as Camp Hosts in the Mineral King area
of Sequoia National Park where Ida's biscuits and gravy and Lyle's scrambled eggs and potatoes were a
Sunday morning staple and any off-duty Rangers were welcome to come and have a hearty country
breakfast.
The years they lived in Las Vegas, NV (plus the years they spent visiting their oldest grandson who lived in
Las Vegas), Ida & Lyle became "regulars" at Arizona Charlies Casino on Decatur. A couple of years after
Lyle passed, Ida moved back into the apartment complex she & Lyle had lived in and she spent many
enjoyable hours at "Charlies", where kind, long-time employees kept an "eye" on her and her cute little
pink walker.
Mother, Mudder-Mudder, Grandmother, Gigi, Great-Grandmother, "The Giginator" were all terms of
enderment for our tiny, but mighty Ida Bell. We will remember how quickly she solved the puzzles on
"Wheel of Fortune" and whenever there were games at baby or wedding showers, she was sure to win most
of the prizes. We will remember her biscuits & gravy, her tamale pie, her chocolate covered cherries and
bourbon balls. We will remember how she always said "Our family has been Blessed to have so much
love." We will remember how much joy she gave us with her sharp whit and her unconditional love, right
up to her last day.
She was preceded by her husband of almost 69 years, Lyle Raymond Bell (2011), and her daughter, Judith
Bell Esqueda (2017). She is survived by her daughter, Janet (George) Walker, son-in-law, Charles Esqueda,
Grandchildren, Yvonne (Seth) Scott, Lyle (Liliana) Walker, Charlynn (Dr. Robert) Jarrett, Brenden (Poxodd)
Walker, Michelle (Don) Meyering and Gayle Walker. Great-Grandchildren, Johnelle (Patrick) Ellison, Ashely
(Jimi) Croker, Chad Jarrett, Bree Jarrett,Terra Scott and Shawn Scott. Plus many dear friends she counted as
family, who also called her Gigi.
A Celebration of her Life will be held November 3, 2018 at Weaver- Hughes Mortuary in Yucaipa.
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