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Jerald Bell Obituary
Jerald "Jerry" Kellie Bell, 91, of Shoreline, WA, died April 11, 2017.
Jerry was born in Evansville, Posey County, IN, on December 21, 1925, to Henry and Valeria Bell. He graduated from FJ Reitz High School in Evansville. He was in the US Army Air Corps, then US Air Force, for 10 years. His assignments included glider bases in TX, recruitment service in Seattle, Fairfield SAC AFB in CA, and 3 years in Tokyo, Japan, doing reconnaissance work, before returning to the Seattle area for discharge.
Jerry moved from Evansville, IN, to Seattle in 1946 and never looked back. He loved the Pacific Northwest and its cool, clear climate.
Jerry was married to Juanita Meyer in Evansville, Fay Marie O'Connor 1951-1960, and to Jo Ann Marie Smith for 44 years from 1968 to 2012.
After the Air Force, Jerry attended the University of Washington, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture. He worked as an Architect and Landscape Architect in Seattle for over 60 years, continuing work into his 91st year, and has many projects around the area and some in other states. Jerry was an expert plant and tree person, including hybridizing some Rhododendrons into new varieties, and had a passion for everything related to foliage.
For 34 years, Jerry has been a member of the Puget Sounders Chapter of the Antique Outboard Motor Club, a national organization, and for 32 years, published the chapter's newsletter. He had great passion for this pursuit, restoring and running motors, and often was found helping others with their motors.
Jerry was known for his dry, quick wit, honest input to projects, a consummate gentleman, with a great heart, who would help anyone at the drop of a hat.
Jerry is survived by his daughter, Eileen Simon; son-in-law Steve Simon; grandson, Ian Simon, and his family, Micaela Cadena, granddaughters Aymara Bustos-Cadena, and Salome Simon-Cadena; many beloved nieces and nephews, and friends; and close friend, Rita Boddy.
Memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 29, at 11:00 A.M.
at Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Cemetery, 6701 30th Ave SW, Seattle, WA.
To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit the Forest Lawn website at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary-place-an-obituary.aspx
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Jerald Bell
Sponsored by The Family.
Adrian Klinkenberg
April 23, 2017
I have had the pleasure of knowing Jerry for over fifty years as a friend and a consultant. In those years I also had the pleasure (almost always) of working with many architects and engineers. Jerry professionally was one of the best. He was honest to his profession as well as to his clients and consultants. He was uniquely qualified both as a Landscape Architect as well as a building architect. I don't know which discipline he cherished the most as he gave great care to both. Jerry also had a firm grasp of history and politics that made him an interesting conversationalist. I will miss Jerry immensely.
Cheryl and Frank Barnese
April 21, 2017
Dear Eileen and Steve I miss my Uncle Kellie so much he had a wonderful humor. I have fond memories of he and and Aunt Joann coming to visit us every year . He loved my Moms (Gracie) Mexican dinners , I was always amazed how he could have three helpings at one sitting and of course he had to have his glass of milk too. He told wonderful stories of he and my Dad growing up in Indiana and his time in Japan . He was always a gentleman with so much knowledge about everything. Truly an end of an era God Bless you and all who had the privilege to know him
Joe Bell
April 20, 2017
Uncle Kellie was one of my heros my whole life, so much so I enlisted in the Air Force as soon as I could out of high school. --- Joseph A Bell Jr. (nephew)
Eileen Simon
April 20, 2017
Eileen and Steve Simon and family and friends.
Mike Hanson
April 20, 2017
A truly wonderful man. What he did for the Puget Sounders chapter of the AOMCI can never be equaled and he is dearly missed by all of us. Rest In Peace, Jerry.
April 20, 2017
Thanks for 34 years of dedicated service with the Puget Sounders Chapter of the Antique Outboard Club. John Laird (Bellevue.WA)
Dan Wolfe
April 19, 2017
A true gentleman, distinguished business owner, incredibly witty and one of the most knowledgeable individuals I've ever known. However, his care and compassion for family and friends superseded all of those traits. Uncle Jerry, we love you and will miss you!
jan norvold
April 19, 2017
I enjoyed talking with Jerry. I always learned something new about outboards and new facets about his interesting life. I admired his directness- telling it like it is. I think I've kept all of his newsletters and will miss not getting any new ones. We lost a great icon who will forever be remembered. Jan Norvold
Marjorie Bombar
April 19, 2017
Through the years Jerry designed our house remodels, and garden structures and he and JoAnn became friends. He was interested in so many things and was a pleasure to work with as well as socialize with.
He dropped in last year on his way to an appointment and we enjoyed a good visit. I did not realize it was the last time I would see him.
I will miss him and the landscape/design community has lost a talented creator as well.
My deepest sympathy to his family.
Dan & Pattie & Malina Heyl
April 18, 2017
We miss Jerry so much! You couldn't have asked for a better neighbor and friend!
Richard Pearsall
April 18, 2017
Dear Eileen,
We too will miss our friend Jerry. We got to know him through the Puget Sound Boat club and his newsletters that were written with such wonderful personality and style. When every we had a motor problem he was there to help with a good suggestion. We have one of the engines that he built and will be proud to say it is a "Jerry Bell engine." Sincerely, Richard Pearsall and Leslie Duff Lehman
April 13, 2017
Eileen, We are truly sorry for your lose. Jerry was a very very nice man.
I am sure he will be missed by many. Vicki Wolfe and Sally Carnahan
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