Juanita Bell Lilly

Juanita Bell Lilly died Friday evening, May 17, 2019, at The Haven of Show Low in Show Low, Arizona from causes incident to her age.  She was 92 years old.  Juanita was born on a Sunday, May 30, 1926, in Sylvester, Fisher County, Texas to her parents, the late James David and Clara Belle (Mefford) Patterson.

Juanita lived her life in the service of others and loved every minute of it!  She was an amazing homemaker to her family.  She was a devoted wife to her dear husband, R.G., and was loving mother to her children and doting grandmother to her grandbabies and great-grandbabies.  Juanita was a woman of great faith and taught her children to love the Lord with all of their "heart, might, mind and strength."  Daily, she strived to follow the Lord's admonition to "love one another."  Juanita's was a familiar face at the Blue Ridge schools in Lakeside.  She worked for a few years in the cafeteria as a server and, her husband, R.G., drove a bus for many years as well.  Together, around the campus, they were affectionately know as "Grandma" and "Grandpa" by not only the students but, by the faculty as well.  They loved those little whipper-snappers and even thought the big whipper-snappers were great too.

Juanita lived a great life and found great joy in her everyday experiences.  She always appreciated the beauty of the great-out-of-doors and considered the White Mountains of Arizona her playground.  She and R.G. enjoyed taking the family camping and, as far as she was concerned, any fishin' hole was her favorite fishin' hole.  She and her husband were both avid golfers and bowlers for many years; bowling well into their retirement years.  Juanita will be missed greatly by her family but, they are all comforted in knowing that she has been reunited with her forever sweetheart as well as her son, grandsons and other family members who've gone on before.   

Juanita is survived by:  her son, Jeryl "Jerry" (Mary) Lilly of Lakeside, Arizona; daughter-in-law, Carma Lilly of Aurora, Colorado; a grandson, Robert Glenn (Kasey) Lilly of Lakeside, Arizona; 2 granddaughters:  Katrina Lilly, Tammy Welling both of Colorado; granddaughter-in-law, DeeDee Lilly of Show Low, Arizona and is also survived by 9 great-grandchildren.  Along with her parents, Juanita was preceded in death by:  her husband, Ralph George "R.G." Lilly; a son, Ralph "Ted" Lilly; 2 grandsons:  Terry Lee Lilly and James Wallace Lilly.

The first of 3 services for Juanita will begin 2:00 P.M., Saturday, May 25, 2019, at the Lakeside Cemetery off of Larsen Road in Lakeside, Arizona.  The second service will begin 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at the Safford Cemetery in Safford, Arizona.  The third service, which will be a Celebration of her life, will begin 2:00 P.M., Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the home of Larry Patterson in Maricopa, Arizona. 

Her family is thankful for all of the expressions of sympathy they have received during this difficult season but are especially grateful for all of the prayers offered up on their behalf.