Margaret E. Bell

Margaret Elizabeth Bell passed away peacefully on October 10, 2021, surrounded by loved ones at home in Denver, Colorado. Margaret was born in Maryville, Tennessee, the daughter of Jeffrey Arnold Hill and Ada Suzanne McCoskey Hill. She graduated from Farragut High School and Maryville College. Margaret married her best friend, The Rev. Dr. John Henry Bell, Jr. in 1983 after a whirlwind courtship.

Margaret dedicated her life and career to service. She engaged faith communities at the Pastoral Institute in Columbus, Georgia. Later, she worked for Metro-Denver Habitat for Humanity. She often supported young people in athletic, creative, and artistic endeavors. She was a member of and served as a Deacon at Wellshire Presbyterian Church and led mission trips to Haiti, Mexico, Israel, Jordan, and Nepal. In recent years, she volunteered as a home tutor for refugees and mentored high school students at East High School. At the time of her death, she was President of the Board of Haiti Partners and Program Coordinator and Retreat Leader for Casting for Recovery Colorado, which provides free, healing fly fishing retreats for women with breast cancer, a cause for which she was most passionate.

Margaret was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer in 2014 and faced her illness with tenacity, courage, and positivity. She was sustained through faith, family, friends, fly fishing, and the prayers of many. She would not be defined by her illness. Her enthusiasm for life was contagious. Margaret was gracious, kind-hearted, creative, joyful, and jovial. She loved to gather friends and strangers to celebrate, and she deemed any occasion worthy of a celebration. Her glass was always half full, if not overflowing.

She is survived by her mother, Ada Suzanne McCoskey Hill; husband of 38 years, The Rev. Dr. John Henry Bell, Jr.; their daughters, Megan Bell Schmoll (Joseph), and Katherine Elizabeth Bell; adored granddaughter, Elizabeth Schmoll; Matthew Griffith (Lauren); Larry Hill (Carol); and her constant companion English Labrador, Ruthie.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 6, 11:00 am at Wellshire Presbyterian Church, 2999 South Colorado Boulevard, in Denver, Colorado, 80222. Donations in memory of Margaret can be made to Casting for Recovery Colorado.