JEFFREY JACKSON BELL
1941-2017
Jeffrey Jackson Bell of Houston, TX passed away from respiratory failure on Thursday, December 28, 2017 at The Methodist Hospital. He was born in Ogden, Utah on March 4, 1941 to Erma and Jackson H. Bell.
His family moved to Aurora, CO when Jeff was a senior in high school and he attended Colorado School of Mines from 1959 to 1964 majoring in Metallurgical Engineering. He served in the US Army from 1965 to 1968 with a stint in France as a member of the Army Engineer Corps. He was an aide-de-camp to a Brigadier General in the Military Liquidation Section in Paris for one year. Upon his return he enjoyed a long marketing career in the US petrochemical industry with stops at Shell Chemical and Conoco Chemical, retiring after 30 years in 2010 as an Executive Vice President for marketing at Texas Aromatics, LP.
Jeff was easy going and gregarious. He made friends wherever he went throughout his life. He enjoyed lasting friendships from his days at Mines, from his service in the Army, to his career in industry, and with a multitude of golfing buddies along the way. A natural athlete, he made any activity look easy. Golf, tennis, skiing and fly fishing were rhythmic arts to him. He pursued quality in whatever he purchased but was always “frugal”. He dearly loved cars (primarily Porsches and BMWs) and read his automobile publications and manuals cover to cover. In retirement, Jeff enjoyed many days on the golf course and in the locker room with fellow club members. Most weekends were spent with he and Susan at their ranch in Brenham, a very happy time for them. He led a rich and full life with family and friends surrounding him. He loved Susan, his children, his stepchildren and his grandchildren and he spent many days traveling to see them and be part of their lives.
Jeff was predeceased by his parents, Erma and Jackson H. Bell and his beautiful and beloved granddaughter, Rebecca Joy Wiggins. He is survived by his wife, Susan Bell; his children, Courtney Bell Assir and husband Andrew, Ashley Bell Frey and husband Charlie, Stacey Bell Wiggins and husband Trae; his step children, Brandy Utz and husband James, Matt McRee, Rachel Kaufman and husband Galen, and Austin McRee; his grandchildren, Rawley and Gracie Assir; Major, Caroline, and Jeffrey Jackson (his namesake, AKA Jake) Frey; Jacob, Samuel, and Joshua Wiggins; and his step grandchildren, Reagan and Ian Utz; and Orion and Lily Claire Kaufman. He is also survived by his sisters, Janet Riger of Mesa, AZ and Susan Tribe and husband Bill of Ogden, UT.
A memorial service will be held on January 5, 2017 at 3:00 PM, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Houston, TX. A reception will be held in Fellowship Hall after the service. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that any memorial contributions in his name be made to the Colorado School of Mines Foundation, Inc., PO Box 4005, Golden, CO 804024005.