Jean Bellah's Obituary
Martha Jane (Jean) Bellah was 91 and surrounded by her loving family when she quietly passed from this life and was welcomed home into the arms of her Lord and Savior on December 15, 2025.
Jean was born March 13, 1934 to William and Anne (Quinn) Reid in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her earliest childhood was spent playing with siblings and attending school in Belfast. By the time that Jean was 7 years old, WWII was well under way in Northern Ireland and she soon became no stranger to tough times. At 8 years old, her family moved to England to find work. By this time, WWII was raging. Among the many stories she would share with her family was the one about the day the street she lived on was bombed. When the bombs stopped whistling down on the houses, they learned that the houses across the street from her home were gone or damaged beyond recognition. She always made a point of telling us that the Lord had looked out for and protected them. Even during those hard years, kids still found ways to just be kids. There was always a hint of laughter in her voice when she told the story of she and other neighborhood children jumping out of the second story window of a bombed out home onto an old mattress! In 1946, when she was 12 years old, Jean left school and went to work in a factory.
Time passed and Jean grew into a lovely and witty young woman. One day, although tired from working, she agreed with her friends to go with them to the USO to dance. She walked into the room and standing there was a very handsome young man from Texas named James who would become her beloved husband of 70+ years. James was stationed in England on active duty and it can be said that as soon as he saw Jean, he was a goner! They married soon after meeting and were blessed first with three children. Many years later they learned they would be blessed yet again with their fourth child. Surprise! It's a girl!
As the years passed, Jean and James were stationed in many places in England and in the States. Following their move "across the Pond" to the States she received one of her most prized possessions. In 1963 she was awarded her Certificate of Naturalization! Jean was so organized that each time they moved she could have the moving boxes unpacked, everything put in its proper place and dinner on the table in time for James to get home from work. Jean loved living in different places. If she couldn't move somewhere periodically, she would settle for trips to the Casino where she would use a little of "her own" money on the slot machines. If she wasn't able to go to the casinos she would settle for a good game of bingo!
As Jean's children grew up and married they provided her with another ten grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. She was always excited whenever a new addition was born into the family. She loved them all and was proud to be called "Nanny" and "NewNanny". Her favorite times were holidays when all of the family got together and celebrated with her. She created many wonderful memories for her family.
Throughout her life, Jean was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, aunt and Nanny/NewNanny. She lived life to its fullest at every opportunity leaving behind the legacy of a shining example of a life well-lived.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, one sister and one grandson. She is survived by two brothers, Terry Reid (Maureen) and Michael Reid, one sister, Ann Snape (Robert), her children, James Edward Bellah (Danina Banister), Paul Bellah (Diane), Anna O'Brien (Bob), Sonya Bellah, ten grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Please join us in praising God for giving us the gift of time with an incredible lady who blessed our lives and taught all of us so much. Family and friends will miss her more than words can ever express. She was truly a bright star and now shines down on us all.
Memorial Services for Jean Bellah will be held in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home of Longview on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 2 pm with a visitation to be held one hour prior to the service. Burial for Jean will take place at DFW National Cemetery at a later date.
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