John Lawrence Bell MD

As a nurse practicing with Dr. Bell...he gave all to his patients for decades. His ultimate wish was to cure cancer forever. He was totally dedicated...My condolences to his family.

My sincere condolences. I was a UTMC colleague and brief patient of Dr. Bell´s when I had a cancer scare years ago. He was a lot of things, but the three words I´m thinking to describe him are wise, funny, and loyal...to his patients, his colleagues, and most of all, his sweet family. He is already incredibly missed by me and countless others! These flowers were from the Cancer Support Community of East Tennessee Luncheon in October 2024. He loved this community, and it loved him back. With love and gratitude...

Beverly and Family,
The AVS Design Family was so sad to hear the news of John's last few months. Beverly and John have been long time Clients as well as Great People in general to whomever visited their home to do work. John will be missed greatly.

Beverly and John have been true friends and Clients from the early 90's and as always, Beverly, I will continue to take care of your low voltage needs.

Fifteen years ago I met Dr. Bell because of breast cancer and he walked me through treatment holding my hand and my heart. A truly amazing human being. A Great Loss! Carolyn Caldwell

John was a dear friend who saved my life at least two times. I will miss him here but look forward to a round of golf with him when I see him again. Steve Tatum

Dr. Bell you will be greatly missed. I will never forget starting at the Cancer Institute and being so intimidated if I even just passed you in the hallway. After I got to know you and knew I could ask you for help with anything and just see how your day was I hoped to get to see you everyday. I'll miss that smile and the pat on the back if I was frustrated at a person or situation. Thank you for the amazing legacy you left for others to learn from and try to aspire to. Love and hugs to the family what a wonderful man you got to have as head of your family.
Love, TJ

Beverly and Family,
I was saddened to hear of your loss. John was a kind and compassionate person who will be missed by many people. It has been a privilege to be your friend for many years.
Kathy (Bragg) Sanderson

A dear friend reached out to me to let me know that Dr. John Bell, UT Cancer Center, Knoxville passed away. She knew how much I cared for him and that he did my breast cancer surgery in 2019. I´m sad for those of us he left behind. He was an amazing doctor. He will be missed greatly. He actually listened to your concerns, encouraged you to keep asking questions until you were comfortable with the answers. He never made us feel rushed. He wanted to be sure Roy got all his questions answered too. The first time I met with him he said don´t worry about taking notes. I´m going to do that for you. I just want you to have time to take it all in and ask anything you want. He rolled his chair over to the patient table, tore off the `paper sheet´ and true to his word started writing notes for me. He was not rushed, he didn´t rush us and we left knowing we were in the right place with the absolute best surgeon possible.

Our friend and attorney introduced us to Dr Bell a few years prior to 2019 when we were concerned with an X-Ray that Roy had which our Dr wanted to use the wait and see approach. Dr Bell had Roy bring the CD by his office and drop it off. He reviewed it, called Roy after 7 PM and said he felt everything was fine, but just to be sure, he wanted to schedule another X-Ray with his team. He did that, reviewed the results and called back, again after 7 PM in the evening to report, nothing to worry about. We never received a bill. The only time Roy was in his office was to drop the CD off. No insurance info provided no payment requested. That was unheard of at the time. Much less in today´s world.

Dr. Bell led the campaign for the UT Cancer Center and the first time Roy and I actually met him was at the Sevierville Noon Day Rotary Club Meeting when he spoke about the campaign. This was many months after Roy´s phone calls and X-Rays!

The morning of my surgery I had to go to the Cancer Center first for an ultrasound. Transportation didn´t show up to wheel me over to the hospital operating room, so Dr Bell did it himself. He gave Roy his computer Bag and said follow me and off we went to the Operating Room. Not waiting on transport. He wheeled me there himself.

I have no doubt there are many, many other stories like ours with this man. It´s a huge loss for the medical community in Knoxville. My prayer is that all the doctors that he has lectured, worked with and mentored remember when consulting with patients to keep Dr Bell´s caring spirit and ultimate bedside manner in their daily interactions with patients.

Dr John Bell, thank you, you left this world a better place.

Matthew 25: 23 His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!´

Please accept our sincere condolences on the loss of this great man. May God be with the family in this time of grief.

I was so sad to hear of Johns illness and death. He was a great doctor, and his legacy at the University of Tennessee hospital will live on.
My prayers are with Beverly and the girls, may the Lord bring peace to you all.
Love always,
Angie Coffey