Minnie Bell Fells-Jackson

Born to Robert Lee Cooley Sr and Annie Mae Cooley, Minnie married Bennie Robin McLeod in 1962 and had children, Lee, Anthony, Deborah, Denise, and Philip McLeod. Then she married Walter E. Fells Sr and had daughter, Alicia Antoinette Fells.

Minnie attended St. John Lutheran Church in Gary, Indiana. She worked at Newberry in Hammond, Indiana, Skyline Steakhouse as manager in Gary, Indiana, and JCPenney Southlake in Merrillville, Indiana for 37 Years. She worked on displays and was promoted to Fine Jewelry manager. She loved to cook and host many family events.

She leaves behind a son, Lee A. McLeod; a daughter, Deborah (Steve) Echols; granddaughter, Denise Marie Collins; grandson, Sayon Rayas, and Walter Fells Jr; son-in-law, Tommy Dunn, and companion, Duane Gray; and her longtime best friend for life, Teresa Turner; godchildren, Tony Turner, Eric Turner and Kevin Turner; siblings, Robert Lee Cooley Jr, Roscoe Cooley, Larry Cooley, Harry (Marilyn) Cooley, Kathleen (Larry) Ponds, Teresa Lewandowski, Douglas Cooley; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death are her sister, Lessie Traylor; son, Philip McLeod; daughter, Alicia Fells Dunn; birth father, Robert Lee Cooley Sr; brother, Glen Cooley; grandmother, Aserlie King; dad, Walter P Larson (Pop); sisters-in-law, Venita Cooley and Eleanor Cooley and husband Leon Jackson Sr.

A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 12 Noon - 2:00 P.M. at Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church, 2323 W. 11th Ave., Gary, Indiana 46404.

Flowers, announcements, condolences to be sent to Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church. Donations can be made to American Heart Association in Minnie’s memory.