Mr. Leonard Coy Bellew, Sr. passed away at his home in Gadsden Saturday, December 05, 2009, after a brief illness. He was 82 years old.Funeral Service will be at 3pm Monday. Burial will follow in Crestwood Cemetery and Mausoleum.
Mr. Bellew was born on February 15, 1927 in Altoona, AL, to the late Sherman Jacob and Ethel Bellew. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one brother Sherman J. Bellew, one sister, Alma Benefield, and one daughter, Rosa Margarita Bellew Saldana.
During World War II Mr. Bellew served in the U.S. Merchant Marines in the Pacific. He worked for Sherman Ready-Mix, retiring after 45 years. He was a member of the U.S. Steelworkers, Local 2176, and also a member of the VFW.
Survivors include his wife, Jacqueline Bellew;
one son Leonard Bellew, Jr. and wife Angela C. Henry of Seattle, Wa;
two daughters, Rita Ann Bellew Negron and husband Roger Negron of Houston, TX, and Belinda Lynn Bellew Escalanta , and husband Carlos E. Escalanta of Merida, Mexico; son-in-law, Lorenzo Saldana of Houston, TX;
one sister, Betty Hamil Lolley and husband Farrell, of Dothan, AL; sister-in-laws, Margie Bellew of Gadsden, and Charlotte Rogers, of Weaver; nine grandchildren, Ana N. Negron-Bellew of Merida, Mexico, Jonathan Drew Nergon of Yorktown, VA, Bilayka Ka Negron-Bellew of Merida, Mexico, Juan A. Saldana-Bellew, Cesar A. Saldana-Bellew, Lorena Saldana-Bellew, Abigail Saldana-Bellew, of Houston, TX, Carlos E. Escalante-Bellew and Juan C. Escalante-Bellew of Merida, Mexico; five great-grandchildren; as well as nieces, nephews, and friends.