Updated: 07 Apr 2013

Daily Oklahoman, The 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
July 27, 2000

Memorial services for Shirley Lee Bellmon, 72, will be Friday, July 28, 2000 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Eighth and Elm, Perry, OK. The Reverend Tim Boggess will officiate. Arrangements are by Sisson Funeral Home of Billings. Shirley was born August 10, 1927, in Billings, to James Ray and Laurine Osborn and died Monday, July 24, 2000 while vacationing with her family at Falmouth, Massachusetts of a massive heart attack.

She married Henry Bellmon in Billings on January 24, 1947. She stopped on the way home from church one Sunday to help him with a flat tire. They were engaged by Wednesday and married within a few weeks. It was a life filled with family, friends, love and adventures. Her roots were deeply planted in her hometown, where she raised her three daughters and helped Henry build a farm. In 1962, Shirley helped Henry get elected as the First Republican Governor of Oklahoma. She was the original "Bellmon Belle"-a driving force of women working in the campaign. She designed and made the "Bellmon Belle" dress. She would be equally involved in his two terms as United States Senator and a second term as Governor. Her work includes founder of the Oklahoma Alliance of Home-Based Businesses, U.S. Senate Wives Club, Oklahoma Beautification "Don't Lay That Trash On Oklahoma" campaign, 4-H Club sponsor, Town and Country Home Demonstration Club, Billings Chamber of Commerce, First Presbyterian Church, Perry, board member of Service Bank, Tonkawa, board member of the Oklahoma Heritage Association, Billings' A Walk Through History, owner of the First Lady Doll collection and the First Lady's Cafe, Friends of the Governor's Mansion and many other activities.

Shirley was honored in many ways throughout her life, including being the recipient of the George Shirk Award for Historic Preservation and the Pioneer Women Award. Shirley was known for her hospitality, generosity, love of family, friends and her hometown. She adored her four grandsons, who returned her love and found endless ways to tease her. Her smile, warmth and spirit will be deeply missed by her family and throughout Oklahoma.

She is survived by her husband, Henry, of the home, daughters, Pat Hoerth, her husband, Jim and son, Will Copeland, and Gail and John Wynne and son, Elliott, all of Enid, and Ann and Rob McFerron and sons, Brok and Ben of Severn, Maryland; brother Dan Osborn and his wife, Nona, of Tulsa; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Max Osborn. Memorials may be made through the funeral home to the Shirley Bellmon Community Service Fund/ Billings...

Sources:  good faith fair use of sources stated above

Compiled, transcribed and submitted by Marti Graham, Oklahoma County, OKGenWeb Coordinator, January 2009. Information posted for educational purposes for viewers and researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.

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