Leroy Bell, son of Perry Melville (1862-1949) and Ida Lovina (Champion) (1868-1950) Bell, was born 10 April 1886 in Crawford County, Ohio. Leroy had no middle name according to his 1942 World War II Draft Registration Card. Leroy attended Ferris Institute in Big Rapids, graduating in the class of 1903 Later he received a B.A. from Michigan State University and an M.A. from the University of Michigan.
Leroy married Mabel Agness Snover 26 November 1908 in Fork Township, Mecosta County, Michigan. Mabel was also a Ferris Institute graduate, Class of 1907. On 17 June 1910 the couple welcomed their first child, Kenneth F. Bell. Unfortunately Kenneth succumbed to broncho-pneumonia 25 Feb 1917, Remus, Mecosta County. Leroy was employed at the Remus school during this time.
World War I Draft Registration, dated 12 September 1918, Remus, Mecosta County recorded Leroy employed as a school principal at Remus. He was described as short, slender with brown eyes and brown hair.
Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek) Sunday 22 October 1922
MECOSTA SCHOOLS HOLD ANNUAL POTATO VACATION
Big Rapids, Oct 21 - There has been a wholesale close-up of the rural schools throughout Mecosta county during the past week, Leroy Bell, county school commissioner, states. There are 107 districts under Mr. Bell's supervision, he claims about 80 of them have closed for potato vacation. Mr. Bell attributes the cause to the low price in potatoes and that the farmers are compelled to take their children out of school because they can't afford to hire help. Several of the village schools also have closed. Barryton, Mecosta and Morley are remaining open. Potato vacation has been an annual affair for several years, but the number of children taken from school this year has exceeded any other year by nearly 50 per cent, Mr. Bell claims. The schools are expected to reopen within a week or 10 days.
Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) Saturday 24 July 1926
SCHOOL MEN MEET AT MT. PLEASANT
COMMISSIONERS FROM 27 COUNTIES ATTEND GATHERING
Mt. Pleasant, Mich., July 23 - Twenty-seven counties were represented at the annual meeting of county school commissioners which took place at Central Michigan Normal Thursday and Friday.
Other commissioners who attended were....; Leroy Bell, Mecosta....
Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek) Monday 26 July 1937
Named Superintendent - Julius Schipper of Martin has been named superintendent of the Middleville schools succeeding LeRoy Bell who has accepted a position as superintendent of the Okemos school.
By 1930 the Bell family had grown to 3 children, Reva, Gaylon and Eldon. The 1938 Lansing City Directory listed Leroy as a "schl supt" with family home address of 202 Haslett, East Lansing. On his World War II Registration Card, 1942, Leroy stated his address was 4835 Kenmore Drive, Okemos.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 19 February 1943
Okemos, Feb. 19 - Eldon Bell entered naval air school in Miami university at Oxford, O., last Monday. Young Bell is a graduate of Okemos high school, of which his father, LeRoy Bell is superintendent, and has been employed at the Michigan Millers Insurance company. An older brother, Gaylon, is in the signal air warning service and now serving in the South Pacific area.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 30 November 1945
HEAD OF OKEMOS SCHOOL TO RETIRE
LEROY BELL ENDING 41 YEARS IN TEACHING PROFESSION
Okemos, Nov. 30 - LeRoy Bell, superintendent of the Okemos schools, announced Tuesday evening to the board of education that he will retire at the end of this year from the teaching profession after 41 years.
Mr. Bell's present contract with the local schools ends next August, which will finish a nine-year period in Okemos. Previously he served as commissioner of schools of Mecosta county for 14 years; teacher at Remus 12 years and with the Kellogg foundation school at Middleville for six years.
The past eight years Mr. bell also has been a director in the Ingham county Tuberculosis and Health society, besides taking an active part in various state education groups and local enterprises.
The board Tuesday evening adopted a resolution of regret at his leaving the local work and expressed appreciation of his untiring efforts in these last several years when school administration has faced many serious problems.
Leroy's wife, Mabel, daughter of Charles William and Nettie Jane (Chisnell) Snover, was born 18 February 1888 in Macomb County, Michigan. She died 23 November 1968 in East Lansing, Ingham County.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 25 November 1968
MABEL A. BELL
Mrs. Mabel A. Bell, 80, of 1541 Mt. Vernon, East Lansing, died Saturday in a local hospital.
A resident of Okemos and East Lansing since 1937, she was a member of the University Christian Church. She was employed at Sears and Roebuck from 1944 to 1953.
Surviving are her husband, LeRoy; two sons, Eldon S. and Gaylon L., both of Lansing; a daughter, Mrs. Reva M. Harwood of Evanston, Ill., a sister, Mrs. Nella Mol of Grand Rapids; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in the University Christian Church with graveside services at 2 p.m. at the Fork Cemetery, Barryton.
Arrangements are by the Gorsline-Runciman East Chapel, East Lansing.
Leroy died 7 February 1971 in Lansing, Ingham County. Leroy and Mable were interred East Fork Cemetery, Barryton, Mecosta County near their young son, Kenneth.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 8 February 1971
EX-SCHOOL OFFICIAL SUCCUMBS
Leroy Bell, 84, of 707 Armstrong Road, died Sunday in a local hospital.
A resident of Okemos and East Lansing since 1937, he was a member of the University Christian Church and a life member of the Okemos Lodge 252 F and AM.
He received his B.A. degree from Michigan State University and his M.A. from the University of Michigan.
Mr. Bell taught school for many years and retired as superintendent of the Okemos Consolidated High School in 1946.
Surviving are two sons, Eldon S. and Gaylon L., both of Lansing; a daughter, Mrs. Reva Harwood of Clearwater, Fla.; a brother, Glenn of Lansing; and two grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Gorsline-Runciman East Chapel, East Lansing, with burial at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Fork Cemetery, Barryton.