Lorie Fearon Bell
Lorie Fearon Bell, 92, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2024 at Fellowship Home at Brookside in Valdosta, Georgia, where he briefly resided since January of the same year.
He was born the first of twin boys on Nov. 1, 1931, in White County, Tn., to Joseph Fearon Bell and Gladys Mary Elsie Grissom Bell. Lorie grew up in Quebeck, Tn., and graduated from White County High School in 1951, where he was drum major for the marching band for two years.
He and his twin brother, Louis, served in the Tennessee National Guard together, and they started to work at the DuPont synthetic fibers plant in Chattanooga in 1952. Shortly after beginning that employment, Lorie and Louis enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953. During his time on active duty, Lorie married Margaret Kathryn McBride on September 11, 1954. While making their home in the Chattanooga area, Lorie and Kathryn, owned and managed the Wedding Bells store in Red Bank, and were partners in the Christmas Bells store in Boaz, Al. After 40 years with DuPont, Lorie retired and focused on the retail businesses, and later on driving cars for local dealerships. He was an active member of the Red Bank Church of Christ since the 1950s, and served as a member of the church’s missions committee for many years.
Lorie was known for his friendly smile and warm, outgoing personality, and especially for his artistic talents, which ranged from flower arranging and painting, to sewing. He’s most remembered for the pin and ink drawings that he called “doodles.” He made the doodles to entertain himself and others, and giving them away always brought him great joy and put a smile on both his and the recipients’ faces.
Lorie was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Kathryn McBride Bell, parents, Joseph Bell and Gladys Grissom Bell, infant sister, Mary Ann Bell, sister, Betty Josephine Bell McDonald, brother-in-law Argyle Quitman (A.Q.) McDonald, and niece Deborah McDonald Spriggs.
He is survived by his son, Fleming (Penny) Bell, and grandchildren, Elizabeth Bell and Joseph Bell of Hahira, Georgia, as well as his brother Louis (Ann) Bell of Chattanooga, sister Martha Sue (Kenneth) Broyles of Sparta, Tennessee, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and their children.
Visitation will be held at Hamilton Funeral Home Wednesday, May 29, from 11 a.m. until funeral service time at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Preston Heights Cemetery.
Hamilton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements at 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, Tn. 37343, 423 531-3975.