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Roll Call Tribute
Jefferson "Jeff" Bell Jr. '42 March 23, 2011 9:56 AM
Cage-Mills Funeral Directors obituary
Jefferson E Bell Jr.
May 11, 1921 - March 21, 2011
Jeff Bell, 89, passed away on March 21, 2011 as a result of a serious head injury. He was born in San Saba, Texas May 11, 1921 to Jeff Bell, Sr. of Luling, Texas and Annette Moore Bell of Llano, Texas. He moved with his parents and sister, Punkin, to Corpus Christi in 1932 where he graduated from Corpus Christi High School and later from Texas A&M College Station with a BS in Economics. He served as a gunnery officer in the US Navy on the USS Smith in anti-submarine warfare in the Pacific.
He returned to Corpus Christi in 1946 and in 1947 he married Mary Daimwood. He was a loving father to Mary's son, Bill Higgins, and to their daughters, Bette and Jessica.
He began work with Portland State Bank as an organizer, later becoming President from 1959 to 1987 when he retired. He actively supported the growth of Portland serving as President of that community's United Way, Library Association, Rotary, and Chamber of Commerce. He was elected Treasurer of the Texas Bankers Association, and organized the Texas Independent Bankers Association.
He was also active in the Corpus Christi community serving as Treasurer of United Way, Regional President of the Cosmopolitan Club, President of the TAMUCC Foundation, President of the Del Mar Foundation, Director of Coastal Bend Community Foundation, Board Member of Corpus Christi Symphony, Advisory Board of Frost Bank, Board Member of the Art Museum of South Texas. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the USS Lexington, the Art Center, and the Aquarium, but his true passion was the development of the Texas A&M campus in Corpus Christi. His leadership skills and community ties were an asset to the early administration as they sought to better the campus and ensure its future. This precipitated his appointment to the President's Circle and Chancellor's Council of the Texas A&M University System. He funded the first computer lab in the Corpus Christi A&M campus library, which later was named the Mary and Jeff Bell Library. He and his late wife were also major contributors to the library at the Bush School of Government, the Corpus Christi Public Library System, the Portland Library and the YMCA Library.
Jeff's firm belief in education led him to found several scholarships. He was acutely aware of the need to educate youth to be environmentally aware. Preservation of wild animals, conservation of water and soil, and the development of alternative energy sources, specifically windpower, were topics of many of his conversations. Ranching in Live Oak County and farming in San Patricio County occupied his time after retirement.
Jeff's family will remember him as a teacher, a disciplinarian, and a loving participatory parent and grandparent. His buddies will remember him as an avid bird hunter, owner of fine hunting dogs and a real card shark. Virtually anyone who ever met him will remember his fine sense of humor, biting wit, and keen intelligence. And even after being honored as Philanthropist of the Year, inducted into Junior Achievement's Business Hall of Fame or crowned as King Alonso L, he remained humble as were his beginnings.
He is survived by three children Bill (Penelope) Higgins of Seattle, WA, Bette (Jack) Vexler of San Antonio, and Jessica Farrell of Southlake; six grandchildren: David Higgins and Emily Loving of Fayetteville, AR, Jeff Vexler and David Vexler of San Antonio, Jordan Vexler-Fierro (Juan Carlos) of Austin, and Annette Farrell of Southlake; two great grandchildren Will and Drew Higgins of Fayetteville; nieces and nephews Joan (Tom) Salazar, Jeff (Liane) Bryson, Jay (Fieke) Bryson, Jane Bryson (Dick Lochte), and Joe Bryson. The family wishes to acknowledge those who were like family as well: Billy Faye Howard, dear and loving friend; Chester Swank and Randy Rachal, true confidantes; those who took care of him at home, Maria Ruiz and Irma Marin; and the very professional medical and nursing staff at Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 25, 2011 at Cage-Mills Funeral Directors, 4901 Everhart Road. A reception will follow at the Town Club at 12:30p.m..
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Corpus Christi Public Library or the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Library. To offer your condolences visit us at www.cage-mills.com
Jefferson E Bell Jr.
May 11, 1921 - March 21, 2011
Jeff Bell, 89, passed away on March 21, 2011 as a result of a serious head injury. He was born in San Saba, Texas May 11, 1921 to Jeff Bell, Sr. of Luling, Texas and Annette Moore Bell of Llano, Texas. He moved with his parents and sister, Punkin, to Corpus Christi in 1932 where he graduated from Corpus Christi High School and later from Texas A&M College Station with a BS in Economics. He served as a gunnery officer in the US Navy on the USS Smith in anti-submarine warfare in the Pacific.
He returned to Corpus Christi in 1946 and in 1947 he married Mary Daimwood. He was a loving father to Mary's son, Bill Higgins, and to their daughters, Bette and Jessica.
He began work with Portland State Bank as an organizer, later becoming President from 1959 to 1987 when he retired. He actively supported the growth of Portland serving as President of that community's United Way, Library Association, Rotary, and Chamber of Commerce. He was elected Treasurer of the Texas Bankers Association, and organized the Texas Independent Bankers Association.
He was also active in the Corpus Christi community serving as Treasurer of United Way, Regional President of the Cosmopolitan Club, President of the TAMUCC Foundation, President of the Del Mar Foundation, Director of Coastal Bend Community Foundation, Board Member of Corpus Christi Symphony, Advisory Board of Frost Bank, Board Member of the Art Museum of South Texas. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the USS Lexington, the Art Center, and the Aquarium, but his true passion was the development of the Texas A&M campus in Corpus Christi. His leadership skills and community ties were an asset to the early administration as they sought to better the campus and ensure its future. This precipitated his appointment to the President's Circle and Chancellor's Council of the Texas A&M University System. He funded the first computer lab in the Corpus Christi A&M campus library, which later was named the Mary and Jeff Bell Library. He and his late wife were also major contributors to the library at the Bush School of Government, the Corpus Christi Public Library System, the Portland Library and the YMCA Library.
Jeff's firm belief in education led him to found several scholarships. He was acutely aware of the need to educate youth to be environmentally aware. Preservation of wild animals, conservation of water and soil, and the development of alternative energy sources, specifically windpower, were topics of many of his conversations. Ranching in Live Oak County and farming in San Patricio County occupied his time after retirement.
Jeff's family will remember him as a teacher, a disciplinarian, and a loving participatory parent and grandparent. His buddies will remember him as an avid bird hunter, owner of fine hunting dogs and a real card shark. Virtually anyone who ever met him will remember his fine sense of humor, biting wit, and keen intelligence. And even after being honored as Philanthropist of the Year, inducted into Junior Achievement's Business Hall of Fame or crowned as King Alonso L, he remained humble as were his beginnings.
He is survived by three children Bill (Penelope) Higgins of Seattle, WA, Bette (Jack) Vexler of San Antonio, and Jessica Farrell of Southlake; six grandchildren: David Higgins and Emily Loving of Fayetteville, AR, Jeff Vexler and David Vexler of San Antonio, Jordan Vexler-Fierro (Juan Carlos) of Austin, and Annette Farrell of Southlake; two great grandchildren Will and Drew Higgins of Fayetteville; nieces and nephews Joan (Tom) Salazar, Jeff (Liane) Bryson, Jay (Fieke) Bryson, Jane Bryson (Dick Lochte), and Joe Bryson. The family wishes to acknowledge those who were like family as well: Billy Faye Howard, dear and loving friend; Chester Swank and Randy Rachal, true confidantes; those who took care of him at home, Maria Ruiz and Irma Marin; and the very professional medical and nursing staff at Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 25, 2011 at Cage-Mills Funeral Directors, 4901 Everhart Road. A reception will follow at the Town Club at 12:30p.m..
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Corpus Christi Public Library or the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Library. To offer your condolences visit us at www.cage-mills.com
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