Thinking of you today sweet lady!! The girls and I still talk about you all the time-you truly impacted our lives and we love you!!

JoAnn, thank you for making this available--it is lovely to see how Aunt Belle blessed the lives of others. Your devoted care in her last years is praiseworthy. Thank you for making those last years of hers brighter and lighter.

I miss your letters and your words of encouragement. You continue to be an inspiration and there is not a day that I do not thank God for putting you in my life. Always missed, never forgotten.

Happy Heavenly birthday mom! You were a great leader by example and about peace.

Happy Birthday!!  You are missed dearly!!!

You are on my mind often. I miss our visits and talks. Thank you for being such a special influence in my life and showing me what unconditional love looks like!!

Thanks for being a light unto me.

Happy HEAVENLY 90th BIRTHDAY MOM! We miss you and appreciate all your teachings and good examples. Love YOU! JoAnn V.

Merry Christmas Mom! Miss you.

Happy Heavenly Birthday mom. This has been an odd year, so far. Thank you for all your support and confidence, it has ALWAYS kept me persuing new goals and giving glory to God for all talents and successes. YOU were the wind beneath my wings. I love you.

Hi Mom. Thinking of you now as this is a year of missing you. I am grateful that you prepared me for such a journey and introduced me to people to help me through this time. I am pleased that you are at peace and enjoyed a nice life. We are well and have good thoughts and wishes for 2020. You are a blessing. Love, JoAnn Van Hoozen

My mother, Alberta Mayfield Cecil, and Texas Belle were first cousins and close their entire lives. Texas was 17 when I was born. And she was a vibrant, precious part of my life until she passed. There wasn’t a birthday or holiday or Christmas that I didn’t receive a card. When I would call her phone over the many decades, she always answered with a warmth that let me know instantly how loved I was. The two of us must have bonded very early in my life, because there was always a closeness that was so uplifting and deep. Our special friendship continued right up until she left us. I have her little collection of bells and ring them often, remembering all the laughs and fun we always had on the phone or enjoying the many shared meals and good times. She touched me so positively and purely, and I miss her every day! ❤️
Love always dearest Texas, from Jed.

I have known Belle Jurena for the past twenty years as a member of the Theosophical Society in America.  I had the opportunity to work with her on various projects over the years. She was always willing to help those in need. All those who came in contact with her were touched by her calmness, unselfishness, and immense love. I will characterize her life as one devoted to unselfish service to all, dedication to duty and earnest search for the Truth. The Houston Branch of the Theosophical Society will be eternally grateful to Belle Jurena for her exemplary life and her unselfish service to the Theosophical Society.  We will miss her.

Aunt Belle was a caring person, genuinely interested in whoever she was talking to and wanting to help with advice.  She was an encourager in many ways. She never missed sending a birthday card to me and my family. Her laugh was a delightful one to hear. She is missed.

Belle was my sister, also my friend.  We were five years apart, and in my childhood I always looked up to her for protection and advice and comfort. 
She was always there for me and willing to show me the ropes as I trailed along behind her.  As adults, we continued to be close and shared our lives with each other--both of us loving the family members of the other one. 
   She was sharp as a tack and I could always depend on her to correct my manners or my grammar or any mispronunciation, but she did it quietly and with kindness and for my good. I learned a lot because of her thoughtfulness and patience through the years. She was always willing to help.
    I cherish the connection we had together--not always agreeing, but always caring and loving. There was never any thought of a "falling out" because we were sisters, and we felt blessed to have each other. 
   I miss her.

Cousin, Debbie Drawdy, writes comforting words all the time. But as Mom's faithful pen pal, I was moved by this last letter and she allowed me to share it here. I believe some of us can relate and benefit.
"You have enriched my life with encouragement, kindness and caring in word and deed. Your perseverance in adversity inspires me to do better and you have made so many good memories for me and so many others.           I'm enclosing a paraphrase of a poem by Lori Eberhardy; it reminds me of our relationship, so I tweaked it a bit, for you, dearest of aunts.
                         Fortunate
Life is filled with many gifts and you have been one of my dearest treasures.  You add value to every part of my life, giving me a love that is worth more    than gold.
You've shown me how to live deeply in the little moments of my life and
I celebrate our journey, for you've taught me that when my heart is open, happiness will find me.
You have contributed to the joy in my heart and the solace of my soul; and as time keeps moving it brings me closer to you, the kindred spirit I know.
Each day I celebrate you being a part of my world. As I blow a kiss your way, I know that in THIS life, I will forever be the Lucky One."
I will always love and remember you, dear heart.  Debbie

I met Belle around 1990 when I volunteered at Family Outreach. I knew immediately God had given me a gift in our friendship. Belle showed me unconditional love and support as I worked to get through college, married/divorced, and parented my two daughters. Belle never missed sending a card for each of our birthdays. I was so happy my daughters got to know her and when my oldest started a college program in Beaumont, I visited her each time I went that direction. It was selfish though because I was not there to just brighten her day but because she somehow healed my soul when I was with her or spoke to her! She was truly one of the most humble yet remarkable persons I have ever met in my life. I was so blessed to know her!!

We met Belle about exactly a year ago. We would always tell her it was by divine appointment . The Lord put us at the same place on the same day. We normally do our taxes at our local library closest to our home but this last year it changed due to the hurricane we had that flooded many areas so we were told to go to a different location and we did. Well that was where we met our precious Belle!  She was quiet and Ruth noticed her, she was alone and so she began speaking to her. Then I joined in and that began our wonderful friendship. We helped her and stayed with her until her ride picked her up and we kept in touch with her since. She spoke of happy times and about her family she loved. We laughed, reminisced and even cried together. We will never forget her, she sure was an inspirational to everyone who knew her and was loved by ALL. Now, she is our angel. Goodbye is NOT forever, goodbye is NOT the end. It simply means we'll miss you, until we meet again! 

Having worked with Belle in Miami in about 1975, she was one of the nicest persons, I have ever known. She was a very hard worker. When she was caught up in her work, she would find something productive to do. She was someone that I deeply respected and admired.

Whenever Belle attended our Houston Theosophical Lodge meetings, her presence created an ambience without her saying a word.
I learned virtues of kindness and humility by coming in contact with her.

Belle always appreciated my few efforts to keep in touch. I'm sorry I didn't tell her how much that meant to me.

Belle was one of the kindest people I've met in this life. She was a great lady who made the world a better place for being in it.