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Shirley <I>Fowler</I> Bell

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Shirley Fowler Bell

Birth
Lehi, Utah County, Utah, USA
Death
6 May 2018 (aged 87)
American Fork, Utah County, Utah, USA
Burial
Orem, Utah County, Utah, USA GPS-Latitude: 40.3218266, Longitude: -111.6729241
Plot
E-006-04
Memorial ID
View Source
Shirley Fowler Bell
1931 - 2018

Shirley Fowler Bell was born January 20, 1931, in Lehi, Utah, to Daryl and Catherine "Kate" Christensen Fowler. She passed away May 6, 2018, in the American Fork Hospital surrounded by her family whom she loved so dearly. The family would especially like to thank the staff of the intensive care unit who cared for her so graciously.

Shirley was born January 20, 1931, in a humble four-room bungalow that her parents built by hand, one of the first homes on the Lehi Bench. She was always very proud of her heritage. Her mother was a pioneer from Denmark and her father was the grandson of Thomas Fowler who came from England with the first handcart company and served as Utah County's first sheriff. At the time of her birth, her father was serving his second mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central States. He later became the Mayor of Lehi, dying while in office.

Shirley attended Lehi High School where she was yearbook editor and participated in speech, debate, cheerleading and many dramatic productions. She graduated salutatorian of the class of 1948 and received a scholarship that made it possible to attend college at Utah State University in Logan, Utah.

She met Jay Cyril Bell, the love of her life, when she was 15. He was a student at rival American Fork High School and was brought to her attention as "the guy with yellow socks". They were friends throughout high school. Their abiding friendship deepened into true love during her time at Utah State. They married September 1, 1950, in Lehi, Utah. The following year they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan Utah Temple. They enjoyed 66 beautiful years together full of love, adventure and service.

In 1954, when Jay accepted an opportunity to live and work across the country, Shirley and he embarked on an adventure that truly shaped their lives, living in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, San Francisco and Portland, raising their five children along the way. They delighted in the opportunity to meet new people. They experienced great outdoor recreation in all the places they lived, especially enjoying hiking, boating and camping. Shirley was still waterskiing though her 70s and was meticulous in the care of her health. She loved travel and the opportunity to experience the arts in many forms and places. She loved beautiful vistas and gardens.

While in Portland, Shirley owned and operated a franchise of the Diet Center. Then with Jay, owned a distributorship of Linde Industrial Gases, where she kept the books.

Shirley and Jay served in many positions in as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including two full-time missions in London, England, and Baguio, Philippines. They loved serving together, taking the message of the Savior to many people.

Shirley often worked with the youth inspiring them to learn, grow and serve others. She was known for bringing people together with the gracious hospitality she provided in her home. She followed the Savior's example in seeking out those in need; blessing them with her calm and caring nature while helping them find solutions to problems. She was quick to forgive and rarely offended. She preferred to serve rather than be served and always sought to do right rather than be right.

Understanding the eternal nature of the family, her family relationships became the grounding influence and driving force of her life. With the passing of three of her five children, she focused great energy on nurturing her grandchildren. Over the years, the family has grown to include her children's spouses, 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and a great great granddaughter arriving in July.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Jay; her children: Jeanette, Blake and Christy; her parents; and her siblings: Valdis, Don, Arlin, Iris, Jetta, Bruce, Kent and DeVere. She is survived by her children: Darin and Julie; daughter-in-law, Saralinda; sons-in-law: Kirk Tullis and Greg Burnett; grandchildren: Jennifer Habel, Todd, (Julie) Bell, Marissa (Alan) Peterson, Paula (Kearney) Hoggan, Summer (Mike) Spokes, Lindsey Ann Burnett, James Burnett, Christian Bowen, Nate Bowen, Sumner Bell, Soren Bell; 25 great grandchildren and her brother, Edmund.

Services: Alpine 6th Ward Chapel
Arrangements: Utah Valley Mortuary
Interment: Orem City Cemetery

Original obituary published by:
© Utah Valley Mortuary | May 2018
Shirley Fowler Bell
1931 - 2018

Shirley Fowler Bell was born January 20, 1931, in Lehi, Utah, to Daryl and Catherine "Kate" Christensen Fowler. She passed away May 6, 2018, in the American Fork Hospital surrounded by her family whom she loved so dearly. The family would especially like to thank the staff of the intensive care unit who cared for her so graciously.

Shirley was born January 20, 1931, in a humble four-room bungalow that her parents built by hand, one of the first homes on the Lehi Bench. She was always very proud of her heritage. Her mother was a pioneer from Denmark and her father was the grandson of Thomas Fowler who came from England with the first handcart company and served as Utah County's first sheriff. At the time of her birth, her father was serving his second mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central States. He later became the Mayor of Lehi, dying while in office.

Shirley attended Lehi High School where she was yearbook editor and participated in speech, debate, cheerleading and many dramatic productions. She graduated salutatorian of the class of 1948 and received a scholarship that made it possible to attend college at Utah State University in Logan, Utah.

She met Jay Cyril Bell, the love of her life, when she was 15. He was a student at rival American Fork High School and was brought to her attention as "the guy with yellow socks". They were friends throughout high school. Their abiding friendship deepened into true love during her time at Utah State. They married September 1, 1950, in Lehi, Utah. The following year they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan Utah Temple. They enjoyed 66 beautiful years together full of love, adventure and service.

In 1954, when Jay accepted an opportunity to live and work across the country, Shirley and he embarked on an adventure that truly shaped their lives, living in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, San Francisco and Portland, raising their five children along the way. They delighted in the opportunity to meet new people. They experienced great outdoor recreation in all the places they lived, especially enjoying hiking, boating and camping. Shirley was still waterskiing though her 70s and was meticulous in the care of her health. She loved travel and the opportunity to experience the arts in many forms and places. She loved beautiful vistas and gardens.

While in Portland, Shirley owned and operated a franchise of the Diet Center. Then with Jay, owned a distributorship of Linde Industrial Gases, where she kept the books.

Shirley and Jay served in many positions in as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including two full-time missions in London, England, and Baguio, Philippines. They loved serving together, taking the message of the Savior to many people.

Shirley often worked with the youth inspiring them to learn, grow and serve others. She was known for bringing people together with the gracious hospitality she provided in her home. She followed the Savior's example in seeking out those in need; blessing them with her calm and caring nature while helping them find solutions to problems. She was quick to forgive and rarely offended. She preferred to serve rather than be served and always sought to do right rather than be right.

Understanding the eternal nature of the family, her family relationships became the grounding influence and driving force of her life. With the passing of three of her five children, she focused great energy on nurturing her grandchildren. Over the years, the family has grown to include her children's spouses, 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and a great great granddaughter arriving in July.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Jay; her children: Jeanette, Blake and Christy; her parents; and her siblings: Valdis, Don, Arlin, Iris, Jetta, Bruce, Kent and DeVere. She is survived by her children: Darin and Julie; daughter-in-law, Saralinda; sons-in-law: Kirk Tullis and Greg Burnett; grandchildren: Jennifer Habel, Todd, (Julie) Bell, Marissa (Alan) Peterson, Paula (Kearney) Hoggan, Summer (Mike) Spokes, Lindsey Ann Burnett, James Burnett, Christian Bowen, Nate Bowen, Sumner Bell, Soren Bell; 25 great grandchildren and her brother, Edmund.

Services: Alpine 6th Ward Chapel
Arrangements: Utah Valley Mortuary
Interment: Orem City Cemetery

Original obituary published by:
© Utah Valley Mortuary | May 2018


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