Mr. Bell was born July 20, 1930 in Portland to Elmer and Bessie (Metheral) Bell. He was a 1949 graduate of Benson High School. In 1950 he married Rosemarie Crom in Portland. He joined the US Army Reserve in 1950, and began working as a sheet metal worker at Broad and McClung, from which he retired in 1995. As a sidelight, he also did gun stock carving, a cottage industry that he encouraged his children to help with.
Jim’s spare time was often spent with family in travel – having seen much of the U.S. during motor home and airplane trips, camping and walking, and exploring the Pacific Coast. He also fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Australia during a four week vacation there, and often visited property in Lake Merwin, Washington at Camper’s Hideaway. Jim had a long interest in woodworking and woodcarving, and had become interested in completing puzzles after it had become difficult to travel as extensively. He was an avid freshwater fisherman, as well. Jim was a lover of animals, always had pets in the house, and he and Rosemarie always had season passes to the Oregon Zoo.
Mr. Bell was preceded in death by his sister, Marge Horton,
and is survived by
his wife of 65 years, Rosemarie Bell of Portland;
children Kathleen Kunz and husband William Kunz, Jr of Portland, Susan Giordano of Portland, and Michael Bell of Portland;
grandchildren Jennifer, Adam, Tyler, Marcus, Sadie, and Kama;
and great-grandchildren Alejandra, Zander, Kaley, Desmond, Phoenix, and Austin.
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