October 23, 1954 would have been the 66th wedding anniversary of the late William J. Bell and his wife Lee Phillip Bell. The couple’s daughter, Lauralee Bell, who plays Chris on The Young and the Restless, took to social media to honor her late parents on their special day.
Memories From Lauralee Bell
“When they were young but no longer restless once they found each other! Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad❤️ #happyanniversary #loveyou #matchmadeinheaven,” Bell posted.
In William J. Bell’s memoir, The Young and Restless Life of William J. Bell, written by Michael Maloney with Lee Phillip Bell, it was reported that Lee and Bill wed on October 23, 1954 at the Riverside Presbyterian Church in Riverside, Illinois. Reverend J. Merion Kadyk performed the ceremony. William’s baby sister, Mary, was the flower girl.
“Our wedding day, as most wedding days are, was organized confusion,” Lee wrote in a column for Chicago’s American. “Last minute alterations on my wedding dress, a hairdo that wouldn’t stay in place, Bill’s tuxedo tails that didn’t fit, and plane tickets that for two hours were hopelessly lost.
“But somehow by the time the wedding march began at six that night, everything fell into place and it was truly a lovely wedding,” Lee added. “My bouquet went to the maid of honor, who was married a few months later. We left the reception promptly at eleven and hurried to the airport, followed by scores of friends, only to learn that our flight would be delayed by three hours.”
You can see treasured photos in Lauralee’s post below, showing her parents on their wedding day and throughout the years. First, as they had their own children, Lauralee, and her brothers, William James and Bradley Phillip (executive producer/head writer, The Bold and the Beautiful) and later, how they were surrounded by grandchildren, and also how they celebrated their 50th anniversary, 16 years ago in 2004.
Soap Hub joins Bell in celebrating Bill and Lee’s 66th wedding anniversary. The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for air times.
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