Mildred Lauretta McWaters Bell, 99, first born of loving parents, Anna and Pierce McWaters, died peacefully at home on January 28, 2014. Mildred was born on a farm near Hugo, Oklahoma on May 5, 1914. At school age she attended the rural two-room school built on land given by her maternal grandparents. She had wonderful teachers during those years through the eighth grade. After graduating Hugo High School she graduated from Southeastern State College in Durant, Oklahoma and began her teaching career in the two-room rural schoolhouse southeast of Hugo, in the Bearden Springs District where she had attended as a child. After four years of teaching in the rural school, she taught in the elementary schools in Hugo. During World War II she came to Hanford, Washington to work as a file clerk for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 1945 she married Norman M. Bell at Central United Protestant in Richland where they made their home. Her greatest joy was making a home and nurturing their children Norman Jr., Anna Margaret, and Jerry. They all followed in her footsteps and chose education as a career. Mildred was a long-time Sunday School teacher and Girl Scout leader in Hugo, Okalahoma and in Richland, Washington. She was a teacher at Sacajawea Elementary School in Richland for 16 years, retiring in 1975. She was a faithful and once active member of Central United Protestant Church, a member of Local State and National Retired Teachers' Associations, a member of the Alpha Epsilon Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society (an international organization of women educators), and a member of Chapter DF of the P.E.O. sisterhood. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Norman, and her three younger sisters, Lucille Oakes, Nell Niegemann, and Dewetta Correa. She is survived by her children Norman (Debbie), Anna Margaret, and Jerry, her six grandchildren: Aaron, Aric, Leslie (Dan), McCade, Jonathan, and Franz Scholz, seven great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and seven nieces and nephews. The last five years of her life Mildred lived at Riverton Retirement and Assisted Living Community in Richland. There she enjoyed the many social activities they provided with both old and new friends. The family would like to express their appreciation of the good care she received there and the kind and loving attention that was shown to her by both the staff and residents at Riverton. Memorial services will be held at Central United Protestant Church on Saturday, March 1 at 2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Central United Protestant Church, 1124 Stevens Dr., Richland, Washington 99354 or to the P.E.O. Educational Fund.