Lota Bell (Smauley) Gent
February 2, 1920 — March 17, 2013
Lota Bell Smauley Gent, 93, of Garland, TX went to be with her Lord and her loved ones on March 17, 2013 at Town East Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Mesquite, TX.
Lota Bell was born on February 2, 1920 in Fisher County to Ottis and Ida Mae Smauley. Her family grew up on a farm west of Roby, TX, where she was one of seven children. She married Cecil Gent on May 10, 1944. He preceded her death on April 23, 1993.
Survivors include two brothers, Junior Smauley of Seminole, Tx and J.P. Smauley of Sweetwater, TX; her four children Dewey (Brenda) Gent of Green Valley, AZ, Janice (Bill) Cornell of Rowlett, TX, Karen (Randy) Toler of Littleton, CO and Celia (Steve) Peace of New Braunfels, TX; nine grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Lota Bell loved family, sports, dominos and gardening. In school, she played tennis, softball, volleyball and basketball. She also loved to dance and always enjoyed watching The Lawrence Welk Show.
On June 1, 1953 Cecil and Lota Bell opened The Waffle Shop, a restaurant in Sweetwater. There they served patrons home-style cooking for the next seventeen years.
Lota Bell was a member of First Baptist Church in Sweetwater. It was there that she was baptized and attended a ladies bible study class faithfully until she moved to Garland, TX in October of 2004.
A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, March 22, 2013 at First Baptist Church, Sweetwater, TX, at 11:00 am. A graveside service will follow at the Garden of Memories Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction on Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home. Visitation with the family will be on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Cate- Spencer & Trent Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Pastor Steve Peace and Pastor Joey Turner will be officiating the service. Pallbearers for her service will be her grandsons: Glenn Gent, Parker Gent, Gregg Gent, Kenneth Cornell, Aaron Peace, Steve Rolin, and Sean Haskins.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to Abba Care Assisted Living, 1207 High Grove, Garland, TX. 75041.