Dorothy Marie Bell

Dorothy Marie Bell, a long-time resident of Amarillo, passed away May 25, 2013.  She was 98 years young.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, with Dr. Delbert Serratt officiating.  Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia.

Mrs. Bell was born in Sunset, Texas on November 24, 1914.  At eight years of age, her family moved to Bovina, Texas where her father farmed two sections of land.

Marie graduated from high school in Bovina and that is where she met Ralph R. Bell who was working for Producers Grain Elevator.  Ralph and Marie married in Farwell, Texas on January 25, 1935.  They moved to Amarillo in 1945.  Marie made this her home for 68 years.

She was employed at First National Bank of Amarillo for eight years and then worked in retail sales for 40 years.  This included Marizon’s, White and Kirk, Kline’s and Sakowitz.  In her working career, Marie stood out.  Many people from Amarillo and the surrounding area were helped by Marie until her retirement in 1968.  All her work was done by pencil and paper – no computers.  She gained knowledge by common sense – which, according to Marie, you don’t forget.

Marie took pride in her home and loved to work in the yard.  In April of 2005, the Amarillo Globe News had a large write-up about her tulip garden with a picture of Marie digging in her garden in her favorite yellow overalls and yellow tennis shoes.

She was a kind, independent, generous woman.  She was a member of Temple Baptist Church and her Christian values were reflected in her advocacy for any and all persons in need of help.  She was involved in mission work for Catholic Family Services, Amarillo Downtown Women’s Center and Faith City Mission for many years.  Even when Marie was in her 90’s, she was still collecting food from grocery stores to help feed the poor.

Marie loved animals and she owned and loved many poodles over the years.  This included “Suzie Bell,” her companion poodle for many years.  She fed the birds every morning in her backyard.

She was known as a “spitfire” all her life because of her endless energy and dedication to work.  She was a woman of many roles and was skilled in many things.  She faced many challenges in her life with great strength and courage.  This was due in part to her many friends who encouraged her not to give up.  She will be deeply missed by her friends and family.

Her husband, Ralph, preceded her in death on March 18, 1997, as well as a sister-in-law, Mildred Earlene Wines, in 2003, and sister, Vera Sanders, of Oklahoma City, OK.

Marie is survived by her brother, Weldon L. Wines, of Lubbock, Texas; brother and sister-in-law, John and Glenna Bremer of Amarillo, Texas; sister, Blanche Baker of Broken Arrow, OK; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Faith City Ministries, 401 SE 2nd Ave, Amarillo, Tx 79101 or Downtown Women’s Center, 409 S Monroe, Amarillo, Tx 79101 or Jason’s Bay, 5109 Theda Dr., Amarillo, Tx 79109.

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