Thomas William Bell

Funeral services for Thomas William Bell, 77, of Holly Lake Ranch will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 9, 2013, at the Holly Lake Church of Christ in Holly Lake with Roy Verner and Wayne Fox officiating. Interment will be in the Holly Tree Cemetery in Holly Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of Croley Funeral Home in Hawkins. Tom Bell was called to be with the Lord on November 7, 2013. Tom was born on February 8, 1936, in Sulphur Springs, Texas to Merriell F. and Blanche Williams Bell. At the age of six, Tom was hospitalized at St. Paul"s Hospital in Dallas, Texas and his parents moved the family to Dallas. They later moved to Carrollton, where Tom Graduated from Carrollton High School in 1954. While in high school, Tom was President of the National Honor Society and president of the Chess Club. Thomas" first job was Secretary of the National Skeet Shooting Association. He later worked at Alford"s Refrigerated Warehouses, with his sister, Martha. In 1961, Tom went to work at Kraft Foods, in Garland, Texas. He loved working at Kraft, until his retirement in 1992. Tom loved classical music and photography. More than anything else, he loved going on vacations with his family, always to the western states, and usually to Yellowstone National Park, and Canada. Tom married the love of his life, Bettye Sue Hale, on February 15, 1957. Before they married, Tom and Bettye Sue placed membership at the Webb Chapel Church of Christ, where they worshipped for 41 years and raised their two boys. In 1998, Tom and Bettye moved to Holly Lake Ranch, where they made many new friends. Tom is survived by his wife of 56 years, Bettye Sue Bell of Holly Lake Ranch. Their sons and wives, David and Claudia Bell of Flower Mound, Texas; their children, Jillian of Searcy, Arkansas and Jared of Flower Mound; Tim and Dayna Bell of Waco, Texas, and their children, Kristin of Waco, Jordan, of Reading, Great Britain and Kathryn of Waco. He is also survived by his sister, Martha Sprague of Holly Lake Ranch; his brother and sister-in-law, James and Pam Bell of Farmers Branch, Texas; and his sister, Mary Dugan of Duncanville, Texas. In addition, a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and many good friends survive Tom Cherish his memory. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until service time Saturday, November 9, 2013 at Holly Lake Church of Christ in Holly Lake.