Samuel Dewey Bell

Sam passed away peacefully in his home on March 8, 2021.

Samuel Dewey Bell was born to Orville F. and Wilma J. Bell at Tyndall Air Force Base, Marianna, Florida, on March 19, 1956.  After the death of his Father in Chateauroux, France, at the age of 3, Sam and his family moved to Prineville, Oregon. He graduated from Crook County High School and attended college in La Grande.  While in La Grande Sam worked as an intern for the City Fire Department as a fire sweep.

During his career, Sam worked in the logging industry and at Les Schwab, eventually accepting a position at Central Electric Cooperative working in the Engineering (GIS) Department and retiring as a Logistic Foreman after 28 years of service.

Sam loved traveling, golfing, hiking, hunting and fishing with his wife Kelly.  As a skilled bow hunter, Sam knew all the prime hunting areas.  He enjoyed spending time with his daughter Colinda, teaching her to hunt and how to navigate life.  Along with hunting, Sam was an accomplished fisherman; fishing for bone fish in Belize to salmon, steelhead and sturgeon all over the Pacific Northwest.  Just being outdoors was the hobby he loved and yearned for.

Sam is survived by his wife, Kelly D. Bell of Powell Butte, Oregon; daughter Colinda Lennox and Andy Crozier of Aumsville, Oregon; brother Frank Bell and spouse Sheryl, Prineville, Oregon; stepchildren, Trava Sanders of Klamath Falls, Oregon, Grant Suty and spouse Kendra, of Bend, Oregon; grandchildren, Leif Sanders, Evelyn Suty and Jackson Suty; mother in-law, Claudia Woodman, Klamath Falls, Oregon; 2 brother in-laws, Ron Woodman and spouse Trudy, Merrill, Oregon, and Don Woodman and spouse Denise, Talent, Oregon; niece Sherra Moore, Prineville, Oregon; nephews, Franklin Bell, Prineville, Oregon, and Daniel Bell, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, sister Nancy L. Litteral, brother Thomas L. McGaughey and nephew Brendon D. Litteral.

Sam cherished and loved his family and many friends. He mentioned on more than one occasion “having a loving family is priceless”. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Powell Butte Community Center, March 26th at 1:00 p.m.  Sam’s family gives a special Thank You to Sam’s caregivers Shannon Newell, Kristina Olson and Partners in Care Hospice.

Donations can be made in Sam Bell’s name to ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter www.ALSOregon.org  700 NE Multnomah St, Suite 210, Portland, Oregon 97232

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Samuel Dewey Bell, please visit our floral store.