How I Remember My Friend 'Earl Hamilton Bell'
1931-2004
The Paris News
Published July 04, 2004
Earl Hamilton Bell, 73, of Paris died Friday, July 2, 2004, at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
Graveside services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, at Evergreen Cemetery attended by well over fifty family and friends.
Pallbearers were Mike Ray, Jimmy Wright, Murray Jackson, Alan McPherson, Jerry Hudgens and Gary Webb.
Honorary pallbearers were Phil Taylor, Bill Vest, Bill Grossman, Ed Atkins, Jim Ray and Charles Craig.
Earl was born July 1, 1931, in Paris, the son of Erwin Earl and Myrtle Walters Bell. He married Jeannie Caldwell Bell, who preceded him in death on August 19, 2002.
He attended Paris High School, Paris Junior College, Texas A&M University and Columbia University School of Finance in New York.
He was past president of Paris Skeet and Trap Club and a member of Maxey Rifle Club, National Wild Turkey Federation, Quail Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, National Association of Security Dealers, National Association of Life Underwriters, National Rifle Association, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, National Skeet Shooters Association, American Trapshooters Association and Texas State Rifle Association.
He was retired president of Plaza Corp., Hartford, Conn., and had been manager of the Houston office of Travelers Insurance Company prior to the presidency of Plaza Corp. His career spanned 37 years with the Travelers Corp. He was nationally recognized and noted for being the first in writing insurance coverage for United States astronauts for the first and subsequent moon landings, as well as coverage for the Apollo-Soyuz American and Russian Space Mission, both historical firsts in world insurance history.
He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was well thought of by his friends and will be missed by all.
Survivors include his son, Dr. Michael Caldwell Bell of Austin; grandchildren, Meryl Grace Bell and Drew Caldwell Bell, both of Austin; and a sister, Robbie Walters Craig of Cooper.
3July2004
I wrote out these words just in case I got choked up and forgot what I wanted to say here today… about Earl Bell… the passing of my Friend.
Let me Really misquote from William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" and perhaps bring a smile to Earl's face who I pray is now with God… since he always appreciated my very "punny" attitude regarding classic literature and poetry...
Friends, Texans and countrymen, lend me your ears. We come here to Praise Earl, Not to bury him. The good is oft interred with their bones. Come I to speak in Earl's funeral. But here I am to speak what I do know. We all did love him and not without cause. My heart is in the coffin there with Earl, and I must pause till it come back to me.
I knew Earl Bell to be a patriotic American, an Air Force officer, a successful career executive, a devoted husband, a loving father, a Texan and a friend.
I know many of you have known and loved Earl many times longer than me and can easily share many more stories about him.
Earl's son Mike and I just met for the first time. When we talked on the phone Saturday morning, Mike encouraged me to say a few words about his Dad, as I knew him.
I first met Earl Hamilton Bell… relative of Alexander Graham Bell… in the summer of 1996 because our farm property lines touched. As a new farm owner, I had set about to meet each property owner around my farm.
Well, you know Earl… one thing led to another as we found mutual interests in wildlife, target shooting, computing, collecting stuff and the good life in general. I soon discovered Earl had been there, done that and got the T-shirt and, over the years, was a most interesting man to share time with on virtually any subject.
Jeanne and Earl had me over many times for lively conversations over a meal. Jeanne liked cooking and was so well read and opinionated that she always had Earl jumping through hoops to keep up with her… and he Loved it! Earl told me over and over "Marry an intelligent lady you can communicate with and you will be married forever."
I remember when Jeanne passed, Earl bared his feeling of loss with me and we both had a good cry… in Denny's of all places! I was so sad to see my friend so saddened over his personal loss. I can only imagine what everyone in Denny's was thinking with two grown men slobbering over the Meat Lover's Special.
After Jeanne's passing, we all know Earl lost a bit of the sparkle in his eye and was a bit more withdrawn. Jeanne was the love of his life and his soul mate.
Their guard dog Beau was so much a companion to him… protecting him from the mailman and the Girl Scout cookie salesmen and anyone who dared knock on the door!
As both bachelors and retirees, Earl and I would try to get together at least once a week for some activity like visiting Murray to see his newest toys or eating out or enjoying a gourmet meal he would love to cook up for us. Often Earl would surprise me with a tasty brisket from his smoker or some different recipe he was experimenting with. On more than one occasion we got to talking and he forgot about the bread in the oven and set off the smoke alarms and we had to air the place out! That was Earl!
I knew Earl to be extremely loyal to his "friends". We would joke about how "If you can't use your friends who can you use?" whenever we would be doing each other a favor. All of us here Know you could always count on Earl to be there for you, whatever the reason and whatever the time of day. Some people just pay lip service to friendship. I am here to say Earl Lived his word to his friends.
Two weeks ago, we were having breakfast at Denny's after Earl had been chauffeuring around Mike Ray and me because our vehicles were in the shop.
Earl spotted an old high school friend and fellow football player who happened by our table. They hadn't seen each other in years. I watched as Earl reacquainted himself with his old friend and drew him into a conversation recounting their good times as if it was yesterday. That was Earl!
Earl was like that… a real people person both in his super successful career and in his personal life as well.
Monday, a week ago we were again breakfasting at Denny's and Earl was telling me about his latest offer to buy a 1998 Porsche Boxster from his UPS driver. He said it drove like a dream but he had to buy it for His price. I know Mike, Murray and me horse traded with Earl sometimes trading the same thing over and over… back and forth! That was Earl… he loved to Wheel and Deal all the time… Always the consummate salesman as all of us knows.
After breakfast, we drove over to see if we might get another peek at that Porsche he was offering to buy. We ended up driving around town for an hour just talking… That was Earl!
The last time I talked to Earl was last Tuesday evening. He was planning on doing his usual Wednesday trip to Dallas to see his Doctor and seemed quite chipper. I called Thursday to see how it went but there was no answer.
Friday afternoon I called Nelda who told me Earl was gone. Later Mike Ray's wife Terry returned my call to tell me more of Earl's passing.
Saturday morning I received an Email from Mike Bell using Earl's computer. I called Mike back to introduce myself and to tell him I wanted to be here to say a few words about how I knew his Dad.
I am sure I am just saying a bit of what All of us here feel deep in our hearts about Earl Hamilton Bell… our Good Friend.
I pray Earl is now with GOD, shaking HIS hand of True friendship and True Love… And you know Earl… he will be telling GOD yet another one of his fascinating experiences!