A memorial service to honor Bella’s life will be held Friday, December 12 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at DeArman’s Funeral Home in Sulphur.

Interment will follow at the Drake Cemetery, south of Sulphur.

She married Gideon “Shorty” Howell in 1968. He preceded her in death on July 3, 2017.

Bella and Shorty spent most of their lives in Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma. After retiring in 2008 they moved to Sulphur to be closer to her daughter.

Bella spent her working career as a waitress, owning and managing her own restaurant.

Everyone who knew her all say she was spunky and a fire cracker. She was the life of every gathering. She enjoyed music, Dallas Cowboys and OU football and playing Wahoo—which she cheated at! She was very competitive. Mostly she enjoyed people and especially her family.

She is survived by her daughter Liz McClure and Wayne of Sulphur; son Jared Howell and Dawn of Farmington, NM; step-son Malek Howell of Jackson, Fla.; grandchildren Ryen Ramon and Brian, Kalli McClure, Garret Howell, Logan Howell, Kevin Bebow and Ashley, Lacy Robertson, Kevin Howell and Kelly Howell; great granddaughter Endy Ramon as well as several other great grandchildren; and siblings- Pat Duran, Barbara Martinez and Margaret Espethia, all of Holbrook, AZ.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Eddie Branch and Doug Branch, and several siblings.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: The Lodge Village in Ardmore, 1310 Knox Road, Ardmore, OK 73401. The donations will be used for activities for the residents.