Constance I. “Connie” Bell-Burrows, 77, a resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle.
Connie was born on July 3, 1933 in Dolores, Colorado, the daughter of Tillman C. & Vera (Utke) Periman. She was raised in Colorado until the age of 12 when the family moved to Boise, Idaho where she completed her education. She then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving her country during the Korean Conflict.
After her discharge she made her home in California where she married, raised her family and worked as an accountant. She made her home in several communities in California, lived in Alaska for several years and in 1972 she moved to Seattle.
In April of 1994 she was united in marriage to Frank Burrows in Seattle and they made their home at Hermosa Beach near Marysville. She continued working as an accountant in the Seattle area and for over 10 years was an accountant for Metro, retiring in 2000. They moved to Sedro-Woolley in 2005.
Connie was very active in and a Past Matron of the Order of Eastern Star and the founding member of one of the chapters of the Red Hat Society in Marysville.
She is survived by her husband, Frank at the family home in Sedro-Woolley. Her two sons, Russ Bell and his wife, Cindy of Lynden, WA and Randy Bell and his partner, Dick Baker of Scottsdale, AZ. Two grandsons, Ian and Conner Bell. Three step-children, Sue Burrows of Mount Vernon and Tony Burrows and Michael Burrows, both of Oak Harbor, WA and numerous extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, Tillman &Vera Periman and a brother, Dick Periman.
The family requests that memorials be made to the North Puget Cancer Center, 2000 Hospital Drive, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 in memory of Connie.
A Life Celebration Fellowship Gathering will be held at the family home, 107 North Ball Street in Sedro-Woolley on Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 1 to 4 PM. All are encouraged to wear red or purple in honor of Connie. Private inurnment will be at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Services and cremation are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
My dearest Frank,
I was so deaply sorry to read that your dear wife, Connie, passed away. She was a gracious and lovely lady. Full of energy and devoted to all the Red Hatters that she came in contact with. She was a queen above all QUEENS!
She will sorrowfully be missed.
My prayers are with you and all your family…GOD Bless
Connie is a very special person. Our cousin Eugene about said it all. My husband, Ben and I visited with Connie, Frank and Aunt Vera several years ago. There are so many wonderful memories. You are missed and loved deeply.
Your cousin from Dolores
Gene
Connie was my first friend. Her family and mine shared a ranch near Dolores for several years. Connie, Dick, and another cousin, Donna used to play together during before she moved to away.
I last saw Connie on a trip to Seattle in the 90’s. I was there on a business trip. We shared several dinners together before Connie deserted me to visit her first newborn grandson.
Connie, thanks for the memroies.
Your Cousin Gene
Foxy Lady, Connie, Past High Priestes of Ladies Oriental Shrine, are some of the names I know of this wonderful woman. I first met her from my mother Susan Henning through the Ladies Oriental Shrine of Ahmes Court #41. She was a Past High Priestes and a fellow Musette Player. The three of us loved to play the Musette even though some thought it was a little loud and squeeky. I love her humor and her wonderful smile. She was a very kind and generous woman who loved the company of her dear friends in Ladies Oriental Shrine just as much as we loved her. She did so much volunteering to support the Shriner’s Hospital for Children. She will be remembered with many warm thoughts, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to know her. She had many gifts and touched so many lives. She was a special Lady~she will be missed until we meet again.
God Bless,
Sharon
Connie has a wonderful son in our friend Randy, so I can only imagine what a fabulous spirited lady she was.
Russ,
So sorry about the passing of your mother. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through this difficult time.
We remember Connie with fondness and appreciate all she did when she volunteered at the visitor center in Marysville for Snohomish County Tourism Bureau. She was a valued volunteer and such fun to know. We are so very sorry for your loss.
Frank,
I am so sorry for your loss. Queen Connie was a great woman and will be always remembered as such.
Karen, dutchess of Marysville
On behalf of the FoxyRedhatters of Marysville. We are so grateful for our Queen Connie, for founding our chapter in July 2004, for being our leader and bringing her sense of humor and smile to our gatherings, and sticking with us through years of various ailments and, after moving to Sedro Woolley, she still made the long trek to Marysville for our monthly get togethers.
Special remembrances…Our chapter Merrysville parade float with Queen Connie on board her “throne”, the 4/25 Redhat luncheon we hosted one year, our yearly bus trips we hosted for the Victorian RedHat day in Puyallup, our mystery bus trip we hosted last June, Amtrak train trip we hosted, our weekends at Leavenworth autumnfest with 16 members, Lake Chelan redhat getaways, Karaoke singing at one of our yearly birthday parties, local redhat events, Skagit dam tour and other local outings (so many I can’t recall them all.)and our monthly lunches at Golden Corral and Alfy’s and the potluck game days and summer luaus, where we met and chatted and enjoyed the camaraderie of our fellow foxy redhat sisters. Special times, a Very Unique and Special Woman….we love and miss our Queen and thank Frank and family for sharing her with us . We will be there Saturday to honor her and bring pictures of her in action with our group.
Connie was a wonderful person and an inspiration to all of us in her Red Hat Group, which she was Queen- Foxy Red Hatters of Marysville, WA.
We all will miss Connie and continued prayers go out to her family.