Maryan L. Bell, 95 of New Windsor, died peacefully on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Brookstone of Aledo. Private family graveside services will be held at Hopewell Cemetery, New Windsor, Illinois. Memorials may be made to Hopewell Cemetery in Maryan’s memory. Speer Funeral Home, Aledo, is assisting the family.
Maryan Louise was born on August 2, 1931, in Jacksonville, Illinois, to Martin and Margaret E. (Marshall) Graff. She graduated from Joy High School and attended Western Illinois University. Maryan and LaVerne Bell were married on December 21, 1952, in Joy, Illinois. He preceded her in death on July 27, 2003.
After marrying, while LaVerne served in the military, Maryan worked at the National Bank of Aledo. She later became a beloved homemaker whose meals were so well known among the farmhands that in later years they joked they would work for them alone. She was also the family “doctor,” tending everything from minor scrapes with bandages to injuries requiring the dreaded Merthiolate. As a farm wife, she took on many roles, including farmhand, chauffeur, and parts runner.
She was a talented seamstress who made dolls, clothing, bridesmaid dresses for both sons’ weddings, prom and homecoming alterations, cheerleading uniforms, and homemade costumes. In her spare time Maryan enjoyed watching sports and had a few favorites, John Elway, Peyton Manning, and Duke basketball.
Her grandchildren also fondly remember her cooking, especially the brownies, unfrosted chocolate cake, goulash, and chili. She always kept midmorning snacks on hand—melon served with toothpicks, oatmeal cream pies, fudge rounds, Snickers bars, and, of course, ice-cold Pepsi. When the boys were unloading grain wagons, she delivered these refreshments on her Hiawatha coaster bicycle.
Those left to cherish Maryan’s memory include her sons and daughters-in-law, Scott and Julie Bell and Greg and Teresa Bell; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Michael and Lindsey Bell and son Henry, Tim and Shelley Bell and daughter, Willow, Emilee and Todd Nellis and children, Luke, Hannah, and Brooke, Ashlee and David Doonan and son, Hudson with another lovingly expected, and Chad and Brittany Bell and children, Amelia and Charlie; and a brother, Richard Graff. Maryan was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Shirley McCaw; and a great-granddaughter, Harper.