Clara J. Bello;
        Vaudeville Era
        Musician, Dies

0KMULGEE — Services are pending for Mrs. Clara Johnson Bello, 76. of Okmulgee who died at the home of her son. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Pearse, of Mounds. Monday morning after a heart attack. Owen Funeral home,  Sapulpa is in charge.

Mrs. Belles, a native of White Water, Wis., came to Okmulgee 46 years ago. A graduate of Mil-Waukee conservatory et music, she directed the house orchestra of various stage shows during the vaudeville era, writing the scores for all instruments.

She began her vaudeville work as a pianist in 1912 in a cabaret outside Milwaukee and kept among her souvenirs the entire Fare of the orchestration of "The Girl from Rectors" which she directed for one season.

For four years Mrs. Bello was Music director of the Suzan Carter Musical comedy company, Playing in convention hall, the Orpheum, the Majestic and Wonderland in Tulsa, and the Strand in Oklahoma City.

She the played in theaters in Okmulgee, taught piano and was a dressmaker of distinction. A full length feature story on Mrs. Bello appeared in the Sunday Oklahoman magazine October 12.

Survivors beside her son,. area sister, Mrs. Lillian Bordwell. Belvedere, Ill.; two grandsons, two great grandsons.

[Pearse was the first husband and she married Bello after moving to Oklahoma, but divorced]