Sharon Ethel Bell

Sharon Ethel Bell, a beloved mother, grandmother, educator, designer, and friend, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a life rich in stories, color, resilience, and love. From the cotton fields of Hale Center, Texas, to the classrooms of California and the runways of fashion, Sharon lived her life with passion, purpose, and a deeply ingrained joy for both creativity and learning.

Born on a farm just west of Hale Center in the Texas Panhandle, Sharon's early days were filled with music, imagination, and a red rocking chair that would eventually find its way into the home of her daughter, Susan, as a cherished family heirloom. The youngest of two daughters to Mary Rebecca and Edmond Dawson Allman, Sharon was nurtured by a gentle mother with artistic flair and a quietly wise father who made his fortune not just in farming, but in his shrewd understanding of numbers, investing, and people. Their lessons on kindness, resilience, and humility would shape her worldview forever.

Sharon's childhood was marked by her deep curiosity and zest for life. Whether singing at the piano in Aunt Rosalie's home in McKinney, riding beside the family dog Tiger as he ran alongside a tractor, or marveling at the simple act of kindness from a teacher or stranger, Sharon had an eye for the beauty and humor in everyday life. Despite early health struggles, including tuberculosis, she never let adversity dim her outlook or her dreams.

A gifted student with a natural love for math and science, Sharon went on to earn her bachelor's degree in pre-medical studies and education from West Texas State University. Though she considered a career in medicine, societal expectations of the time often discouraged women from such paths. Instead, Sharon turned to her other great love-fashion; earning a master's degree in Fashion from California State University, Northridge, and launching a remarkable teaching career that would span decades and touch hundreds of students.

Her early teaching years began in Amarillo, Texas, where she taught high school biology. After marrying Don Bell in 1960, the couple had two children, Susan and Steven, and later moved from Texas to New Jersey and eventually to California. Though their marriage ended in divorce, Sharon and Don remained friends until his passing in 2020.

Sharon's tenacity and spirit truly came to life in the world of fashion. She graduated from the French Fashion Academy, in New York, and she created outfits for several women in the United Nations and for representatives in the New Jersey state and federal government during the 1970s. She later chaired the Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising Department at the American College for the Applied Arts in California. She also taught at California State University Northridge, College of Alameda, Santa Monica College Emeritus, Long Beach City College, and the Art Institute International in San Francisco. Her students adored her, and she returned that admiration tenfold celebrating their successes, championing their creativity, and shaping countless careers in the fashion industry.

Her graduate thesis on millinery (hat-making) earned her an invitation to present in Washington, D.C., a moment of pride she treasured deeply. Sharon had a knack for spotting talent and an even greater gift for recognizing the worth in others. Whether returning a long-lost sketchbook to a fellow designer or helping a student find their artistic voice, Sharon moved through the world with quiet generosity and infectious optimism.

Her life was not without challenges-from bailing out floodwaters in a New Jersey hurricane while pregnant to experiencing the Northridge, California earthquake- Sharon always met each season with grace, grit, and a sharp sense of humor. One of her favorite memories involved a plumber who helped fix her water heater. When she later saw him in church and tapped him on the shoulder mid-sermon, the pastor paused and quipped, "Whatever's happening back there seems more important than what I'm saying up here!" It was those small moments of laughter and connection that Sharon treasured most.

She loved music-particularly Debussy's Clair de Lune-and marveled at both the beauty of the arts and the logic of science. She also loved the fall leaves in New Jersey and the spring flowers blooming in California. Equally right- and left-brained, she embodied the rare blend of analytical thinker and visionary creator.

Sharon is survived by her daughter, Susan Dowling and husband, Patrick Dowling of Melissa; son, Steven Bell and wife, Melinda Bell of Rockwall, Texas; granddaughters, Morgan Howland and husband, Harris Howland, Lauren Tycz and husband, David Tycz, Jennifer Bell, and Leah Bell; great-granddaughter, Kinsley; her sister, Janice Sackett and many cousins and other loving family, who are too many to name plus a host of cherished friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Her pride in her family was matched only by the pride they had in her. From winning childhood dress competitions with her handmade garments to inspiring generations of future designers, Sharon's fingerprints can be found in the seams of every life she touched.

She saw nearly every corner of the continental United States, and even visited Paris-where, she noted, "the coffee was incredibly strong!" In her final years, she found joy in simple pleasures: a good nap, sunshine on her face, and the strum of a guitar from a hospice visitor who played just for her. Sharon leaves behind not just a legacy of design and education, but of embracing life with open arms and an open heart.

Her message to the world was simple but profound:

Accept people for who they are, don't judge,

and look for the beauty ~ It's everywhere.

And in the story of Sharon Allman Bell, there was beauty indeed.