Alma Bell King

Remembering My Mother.. There aren't enough words to capture the essence of my mom's beautiful character and kind-hearted spirit. Her favorite color was red...heart-warming red, which truly represented her as a gentle, soft-spoken person with a big heart. She shied away from attention to her but showered it upon everyone else. Her precious life of ninety-three years is full of many stories, achievements and events. But what we will remember most are her shining light, her legacy and her gift to us all. That gift was to lead by example in teaching us how to love crud Care for one another. She was the epitome of a caring and generous person. She treated everyone as though they were hers to care for. She made it her mission to ensure that no one was left out of her circle of love. As a quiet person, she naturally led by example with her sweet nature, never having a hurtful ward for anyone. As the fourth of nine children born to Reverend Elmer Bell, Sr. and Gertrude Prayer Bell, she was accustomed to having a large family presence. It reflected in her later actions because throughout her life she and her husband opened their home as living quarters to her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. She was everyone's mom. She perfected the pre-paration and hosting of large family meals for holidays and birthdays down to a science. It was common for her to prepare a meal or dessert and surprise a friend, relative or neighbor "just because." There are many stories about her signature peach cobbler, butter-crusted pound cake, homemade ice cream and tropical punch. Even as adults she would add a special touch by packing us all lunches with an endearing note or a paper carnation that she folded from a napkin. But on April 1st, someone was sure to unwrap the empty plate or fake sandwich with a big April Fool's note. My mom was a Sumner High School graduate who went oil to earn a Bachelor's degree from Harris-Stowe Teachers College and continued on to earn a Master's degree in education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. She met my father, St. Louis Dixieland Jazz Musician Leon Bruce King, while working part-time for the postal service. They married in 1954 and had a beautiful partnership. They were both Christians who had a mutual love fo showing kindness toothers, My mother and my half-sister Quinnie lovingly accepted each other and formed an unbreakable bond, mutual loveflourishing between the families.My mother loved her family, her friends and even her plants. She had an amazing green thumb and an ability to propagatethem so that she would have as many as 100 gorgeous plants in the house at any one time. She would give them all away, beautiful pots included, only to start growing 100 more.Interment:St. Peters Cemetery2101 Lucas Hunt RoadSt. Louis, MO 63121 . Visitation Saturday, Mar 18, 2017 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM First Church of God - Richmond Heights 7770 Dale Avenue Richmond Heights, MO 63117 Funeral Service Saturday, Mar 18, 2017 11:00 AM - 12:45 PM First Church of God - Richmond Heights 7770 Dale Avenue Richmond Heights, MO 63117