Mr. Thomas Earl Bell

BELL, Mr. Thomas E. - Age 77, passed away Saturday, May 27, 2017 at his residence. Family hour 9:30 AM Monday, June 5, 2017 at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, G-5443 N. Saginaw St., with funeral service commencing at 10:00 AM. Internment Great Lakes National Cemetery, G-4200 Belford Rd., Holly, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 9:30 AM Monday. Mr. Bell will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 10:00 AM-6:00 PM Sunday, with the family present to receive friends from 4:00 PM-6:00 PM. Mr. Thomas “Sonny” Earl Bell, departed this life on May 27, 2017 at his residence. He was born August 4, 1939 in Columbus, Mississippi, the son of the late Jack Bell and Rozell Hampton (Prude). He was raised in Flint, Michigan where he attended Flint Public Schools. Thomas was an active member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. He served on the Trustee Board and the Usher Board #2. Thomas served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged. He worked at Chevrolet Manufacturing, a Division of General Motors Corporation, for 34 years in the Quality Control Department. Thomas was a kind and gentle man with a smile for everyone. He always said, “Pass the Positive”. He loved basketball and baseball, but his passion was fishing, fishing and more fishing with his buddies, Elmer Roberts, Joseph Peterson and Oswald Sams. Mr. Bell, leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted wife and friend, Louise Bell of Mt. Morris, MI; son, Zachary (Karen) Bell of Pearland, TX; daughter, Yolonda (Jeffrey) Cross of Flushing, MI; 3 grandchildren, Jeffrey Cross Jr. of Flushing, MI, Zachary Bell, Jr. and Kristina Bell of Pearland, TX; 4 nieces, Bernadette (Calvin Sr.) Coleman, Daphne Grant, Lida Berry all of Flint and Tracey Berry of Redfort, MI; 6 nephews, Dr. Ronald (Sharon) McRipley of Dallas, PA, Michael (Brenda) McRipley of MorrisVille, PA., Mark McRipley of Levittown, PA, Andre’ (Veronica) Hairston, Antwan (Deondra) Hairston, both of Flint and Reginald (Phyllis) Berry of Salisbury, MD; 11 cousins, Betty Chase, Rita Gandy, William (Alice) Gandy, Donny Gandy, Vance Gandy, Ricky Gandy, all of Fort Worth, TX, George Gandy Jr. of St. Louis, MO, Joseph Craddock of Philadelphia, PA, Johnnie Ewing, Percy McGowan and Greg (Cassandra) Harris all of Flint; sisters in law, Barbara A. Berry and Lorretta Grant both of Flint; a host of other relatives and friends including special friends; Annie Mae Holland, Elmer (Dovie) Roberts, Joseph (Shirley) Peterson, Oswald (Emma) Sams, Versie (Dave) Munerlyn, Leslie (Thurman) Ross, Willie (Andrew) Grant, Dellmarie Petty, Cleve (Sharon) Harrington, Bernice Stewart, Janice Dunkling, Dorothy Hawkins, all of Flint, Dixie Smith of Flushing, MI, Jackie McKinney of Detroit, MI and Wendall (Nellie) Hazely of Southfield, MI. Mr. Thomas Earl Bell, was preceded in death by: parents, Jack Bell and Rozell Hampton; son, Earl Bell; brother, Bernard Grant; sister, Bernadine McRipley; aunts, Ermie Johnson and Elizabeth Gandy. The family would like to give special thanks to, the entire Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church family, the Mt. Morris Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Dr. Peran and staff; Nurses, Dee and Toni, Dr. Callaway and staff, and Hospice Nurses, Angie and Gale.

Mr. Thomas Earl Bell

August 4, 1939 - May 27, 2017