Obituary for Coralie “Corky” Bell

Coralie “Corky” Bell

August 5, 1927 – April 27, 2023

Coralie “Corky” Bell, formerly of Blackwell, passed away on April 27, 2023, in Wichita, Kansas, at the age of 95 years.

Corky Bell was born at the Stricklin Hospital in Tonkawa on August 5, 1927, the daughter of Lloyd A. and Lorene (Lohmann) Miller. Corky grew up on a farm southwest of Tonkawa that her grandfather staked in the Land Run of 1893. She attended Cottage Hill School, Tonkawa High School and Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa. She was awarded medals in many speech, vocal, and 4-H contests and was a member of the debate team at Northern Oklahoma College.

On May 31, 1947, Coralie married Johnnie R. “Jack” Bell in the Methodist Church in Tonkawa, and they celebrated sixty-five years together before his death in November of 2011.

In November of 2017, Corky (with the help of many) moved to Wichita, Kansas, where she made many new “old” friends.

Corky was an avid golfer and achieved a lifelong ambition when she learned to fly, soloing for the first time the summer following her high school graduation. She served as a Webelos Leader, Camp Fire Leader, Outstanding Kay County 4-H Club member, Jaycee Jaynes member, president of the Blackwell Ladies’ Golf Association, a member of the Top of Oklahoma Historical Society and a member of the First United Methodist Church.

During her years working for the Blackwell Public Schools, she made many lasting friendships and was especially grateful for her time spent with students, teachers and parents.

The prime focus of her love was her family. She thoroughly loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and spent every opportunity making memories with them. She loved each one completely and unconditionally.

She is survived by daughters, Janis Hawkins (James) of Rogers, Arkansas and Vickie Olsen of Bel Aire, Kansas; a son, Rocky Bell (Teresa) of Garden City, Kansas; five grandchildren, Luke (Tamra) Olsen, Lincoln (Karin) Olsen, Lyndsay (Mike) Deeter, Chelsea (Adam) Harris and Justina Bell; and twelve great grandchildren, Anabell Bower, Hailey Boer, Bethany Olsen, Luke Olsen Jr., Brooke Olsen, Riane Olsen, Gavin Olsen, Ethan Harris, Nolan Harris, Jordan Harris, Grady Deeter and Cole Deeter.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Nona Mae Miller, Nina Mae Connally, Wilma Jane Hembree and Wanda Jean Wright; a brother, John Dee Miller; two brothers-in-law, Henry D. Connally and Edward Hembree; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Friday, May 5th in the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Daniel Rickman officiating. Burial will follow in the Braman Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Friday morning at the funeral home.

A memorial has been established in her honor with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for cancer research in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.