Mardella Lee Zell, Crystal Falls Resident, Dies at 96

Mardella Lee (Smith) Zell, who first came to Crystal Falls as a 7-year-old spending summers at a friend's cottage on Sergeant Lake, spent the rest of her long life rooted in the community that lake introduced her to. She died there on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the age of 96. She would have turned 97 in July.

Born July 6, 1929, in Mechanicsburg, Indiana, to Murl and Mabel Smith, Zell made Crystal Falls her permanent home and built a record of civic engagement that stretched across decades. She was a member of the Crystal Falls Kiwanis Club and served as Vice President of the Alpha Crystal Falls Amasa Community Development, LTD., for 20 years. In her free time, she played bingo and cards at the VFW and local senior centers with her friends, routines that kept her connected to the same community she had first encountered on the shores of what is now called Light Lake.

She was married to her husband, Bill, for 47 years. He preceded her in death, as did her parents, Murl and Mabel Smith; her sister, Waneta (Paul) Cochran; and her brother, Willard "Kenny" (Oma) Smith. She is survived by her daughter, Terry (Wayne) Maki, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Per her wishes, a private memorial service will be held in the spring. Zell will be laid to rest at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Crystal Falls.

Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Crystal Falls is handling arrangements. The family has asked that those wishing to honor Zell's memory consider a donation to the Amasa Senior Center in lieu of flowers. Condolences may be left online at jacobsfuneralhomes.com.