Marie Bell

Sarah Marie Birdwell Bell was born in Hillsboro, Hill County, Texas, on September 11, 1941, to Guy Barnett Birdwell and Hazel Lois Farquhar Birdwell.  She passed away peacefully Tuesday, August 13, 2024, surrounded by her family at the home of her daughter, Rhonda Jo Bell Hughes.

Marie (as she was commonly called) loved to travel and go to new places, which was instilled in her life at an early age as she was the daughter of a Methodist minister who moved all over the New Mexico Conference with his ministerial appointments.

Marie married George Stanley Bell of Gorman, Texas, on June 1, 1957, in Odessa, Texas. Marie worked for Floyd’s Grocery in Cleburne, Texas, for many years, and also worked at Bennett Printing and Office Supply for over 39 years.  Even with work and family obligations, Marie found time to be an avid reader and a published poet.

Marie’s strong faith and relationship with Jesus Christ helped her navigate the many adventures and challenges of life.  Marie was a member of Kopperl Methodist Church in Kopperl, Texas.  Marie loved her family, and friends, and was loved by many more as she never met a stranger!

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, George Stanley Bell; son, Ricky Lynn Bell; sister, Clara Ruth Birdwell Morris; and her brother, William Barnett Birdwell.

Marie is survived by her son, George Randal Bell and his wife, Laurie Lynn Barham Bell of College Station, Texas; her daughter, Rhonda Jo Bell Hughes of Kopperl, Texas; her brother, Guy Lynn Birdwell and his wife, Valerie Ann Strickland Birdwell of Georgetown, Texas; her sister-in-law, Nancy Birdwell of Georgia; her grandchildren, Amber Lynn Bell Herbelin and her husband, Brent Herbelin of College Station, Texas, Kelli Michelle Bell Rogers and her husband, Joel Rogers of Georgetown, Texas, Dustin Russell Hughes and his wife, Paige Hughes of Blum, Texas, Jason Hayden Hughes Lynch and partner, Trey Lynch of Eastland, Texas, and Jessica JoLynn Hughes Bachhofer and her husband, Troy Bachhofer of Kopperl, Texas; 7 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors in Whitney, Texas, on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.  Burial will follow at Hillcrest Garden of Memory near Hillsboro, Texas.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, August 16, 2024.

Pallbearers are Dustin Hughes, Hayden Hughes, Brayden Hendrix, Troy Bachhofer, Brent Herbelin and Joel Rogers. Honorary pallbearers are Jason Lynch and Trey Lynch.