Sandra Taylor Bell

Sandra grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.  She graduated with a BS in Public Communications from Syracuse University, NY and accepted a job as Women's Editor of the Daily News, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. 

The Virgin Islands sounds very exotic, but it didn't take long to get "rock happy" -- that's what you call it when you want to drive somewhere, but you can only drive in circles on an island.  She headed back to the states.  After working a short time in Advertising in Cleveland, she gave up the grey skies of Cleveland, packed her bags, and drove south to find the sun again.  She ran out of gas when she hit Sarasota, Florida and found work at McDonald's  restaurant where she soon became Assistant Manager in 3 months.  Much of her time was spent training over 100 crew members, repairing equipment, inventory, and profit/loss management.

It was in Sarasota that she met Pete Bell, love literally at first sight. They married and moved to Miami, Florida where Pete worked with Pan American Airlines.   

They had two children and lived in Miami, Florida.  The family survived the Pan American Airlines Bankruptcy and Hurricane Andrew in 1992.  After 22 years of marriage, her husband died following a long iillness.  The family left Miami, and moved to Independence, Missouri.