Jessie Bell

Jessie Latture Bell, 102 years old, passed away May 3, 2012, at her son's home in Boise, Idaho.

She was born Dec. 10, 1909, to Oliver Charles Latture and Bessie Blanch Latture in Portland, Ore. She started grade school in Enterprise, Ore., and subsequently moved to a small farm in The Franklin Community in Caldwell, Idaho, with her parents and sister, Blanch McClure, where she attended Franklin Elementary School and Franklin Community Church.

She graduated from Caldwell High School in 1928. In high school, she participated in sports and was on the basketball team as running center. She graduated from Saint Luke's School of Nursing in 1931. She worked in her profession in hospitals, doctor's offices and private duty until retirement.

She moved to Mountain Home in 1979 and joined her daughter, Dr. Donna Bell, in her medical practice. Her hobbies included riding horses, square dancing, snow skiing, fishing, swimming and ice skating on the sloughs of the Boise River with her friend, Doris Whiffen.

It was at age 54 she learned snow skiing to spend time with her grandchildren on the slopes of Bogus Basin. She was active in the early activities developing the Boise River Trail, now known as the Green Belt. As recently as two years ago, she was active in line dancing.

She loved farm life and was a natural horsewoman. Her love of horses was a part of her entire life, and her first horse was a gift from her parents. She kept horses at her pasture in Mountain Home for many years and attributed her long life to daily walks around the pasture as well as dancing.

This past February, she spent a week in Mexico with her son and daughter in law. While she was there, she was crowned Queen of Carnival at the resort where they stayed.

She was married to Willard Dana Bell in 1932 until his death in 1965. In 1984, she married Carl Fredenhagen. They were later divorced.

Jessie is preceded in death by her parents, Oliver Charles Latture and Bessie Blanch Latture; husband, Willard Dana Bell; daughter, Donna L. Bell, MD; and sister, Blanch McClure.

Jessie is survived by her son, William Eugene Bell; daughter-in-law, Rosalie Terry Bell, Boise, Idaho; grandson, Theodore Anthony Bell of Eugene, Ore.; grand-daughter and family, Dana Elizabeth Ouderkirk, husband, Erik; and great-grandchildren, Johanna and Elizabeth Ouderkirk of Denver, Colo.; and cousins, Rocky, Gary and Wes Towle, Boise, Idaho.

She was a Gracious, Loving, Wonderful lady. Those who knew her will have stellar memories of her forever.

Thank you to the staff at the downtown YMCA for your kindness in allowing Jessie to maintain an active life and to St. Luke's Hospice for their efforts to make the last days and hours of Jessie's life as peaceful as possible.

Donations may be made to the Mountain Home Senior Citizen Center, 1000 North 3rd East, Mountain Home, ID 83647.

A memorial service will be held May 25, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Christian and Baptist Church, 265 North 4th East, Mountain Home, Idaho.