Margaret N. “Peg” Bell, 97, of Butler passed away late Monday afternoon at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Butler Township following a brief illness.

Born in Perryville, Clarion County, on Dec. 27, 1914, she was the daughter of the late Charles Arnold and Mary Violet Graham Best.

She was a graduate of the former Parker High School and the Butler Business School.

She was employed at the former Parker Glass Co., L. Sonneborn and Sons in Petrolia and later with the Karns City School District.

Prior to moving to Butler in the early 1980s, she and her late husband, Ivan, were active members of the Parker United Methodist Church. Peg was extremely active in her new church, the First United Methodist Church of Butler. She enjoyed the Asbury Sunday school class and participated in the Three M's of the church, Merry, Mature Methodists.

On May 12 this year, the church honored the eldest living members with their “For a Legacy Event” dinner. Peg and another member were the eldest, both being born in 1914.

Mrs. Bell enjoyed 27 years as a volunteer with the Butler Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. In 2010, she was recognized for her years of service and was named Auxiliary Lady of the Year.

In earlier years, she enjoyed many happy hours as a member of the Foxburg Country Club at Foxburg.

Peg had a “green thumb” in her hobby of creating beautiful flower gardens around her home.

Surviving are her three sons, Ivan Keith Bell and his companion, Mary Kay Fleeger, of Butler, Ian Drew Bell and his wife, Susan, of Chicora and Eric Joel Bell and his wife, Patricia, of Butler; two grandchildren, Rachael Kathryn Bell of Los Angeles, Calif., and David Monsour II of Florida; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan C. Bell, who she married June 28, 1941, and who passed away Feb. 1, 1991; and a daughter-in-law, Virginia M. Gschnell “Ginny” Bell in 2000. Peg was the last survivor of her siblings.

BELL — A private burial service for Margaret N. “Peg” Bell, who died Monday, July 2, 2012, will be Friday morning at the Parker Presbyterian Cemetery with a family friend officiating. A memorial service will be at the First United Methodist Church in Butler at a date to be announced.Arrangements are entrusted to H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home.Memorial donations may be made to the Asbury Sunday school class at the First United Methodist Church of Butler or to the Ladies Auxiliary at Butler Memorial Hospital.To view or send condolences and to send flowers and sympathy cards, visit www.buzardfuneralhomes.com.