Obituary

Jimmie Louis “Jim” Bell, age 86, of Gilbert, AZ, passed away on May 5, 2024 surrounded by his family. He was born on June 16, 1937, in Bakersfield, CA. Jim was known for being generous, loyal, intimately engaged with helping others and always putting his family first.
He graduated from East Bakersfield High School in the Class of 1956. He met his first wife, Nancy Joan Butts, in grade school and married her in 1957, while serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1960, and stationed at Thule Greenland AFB. After his military service, he worked in a civilian position at Vandenburg Airforce Base in Lompoc, CA until 1972. Then, moved the family to Lancaster, CA, where he pursued a career as a Facilities Engineer with the Federal Aviation Administration, working in Palmdale, CA (’72-’77), Phoenix, AZ (’77-’88), and Fairbanks, Alaska (’88-’92).
From 1969 to 1977 in Lompoc and Lancaster, California, Jim enjoyed coaching all three of his sons through Little League Baseball. Later in his retirement years, Jim fellowshipped with members of the Arbor Group in Mesa, AZ, where he found solace and community. In his free time, Jim enjoyed watching the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns games on TV, as well as working on cars, DIY home projects, and of course, spending a lot of time with his family.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife of 27 years, Rosemarie Bell, his 3 sons (and daughters in-law): Bowen Bell (Traci Lee), Kevin Bell (Patricia Bell), and Brian Bell (Lisa Bell), and his 4 stepchildren Audrey Markham, Cynthia Smith, Stephen Barnes and David Barnes. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren: James Bell, Brittney Bell, Jacob Bell, Joshua Bell, Katelyn Hargraves, Nicholas Bell, Emily Hansen, and Troy Bell and 1 great-grandchild: Braxton Hansen. Jim was preceded in death by his first wife Nancy Joan (Butts) Bell (1993), his father James Andrew Bell (1957), his mother Estie Lee (Prentiss) Bell (1992), and his sister Margaret Elizabeth (Dunbar) Bell (2011).
A memorial service and Celebration of Life for Jim will be held at a later date.