Charles Marcus Bell

Charles Marcus Bell was born on November 4, 1952 in St. Petersburg, Florida, on his mother’s birthday. The second son to Flora Elizabeth (Betty) and Jay Henry Bell, Sr., Charles lived his young life in Pinellas County, starting school at Shore Acres Elementary and graduating high school at Northeast High School in 1968. After high school, Charles began a job with Bell Telephone Company as a lineman. He met and married Nan DeTore of the Canal Zone, Panama, in April of 1975, and they began a family. Over the years, they added 3 daughters, Leslie, Erin, and Brittany, and built their home in St. Petersburg. Charles moved through the ranks of the General Telephone Electric (GTE) Company as a field service technician and then as an in-house dispatcher and technician, all as the company changed hands, first becoming BellSouth and then Verizon Telephone Company. Charles enjoyed family life and helping neighbors, and was quite a handy-man – always working on one project or another, either at home or in the neighborhood. His early hobbies included maintaining an extensive music collection, from which he would sometimes DJ local parties, and he has been remembered for his wild Halloween costumes, as well as giving the kids motorcycle rides when he came home from work. Charles and Nan divorced in 1995. Years later, he married long-time friend Deborah Reichard and he added three step-sons and eventually 3 step-grandchildren, Carmyn, Pryde, and Jadyn, to his extended family. Charles enjoyed playing “Santa Claus,” and is remembered fondly for the Christmases that he made special for those around him, either by securing that special present, or for simply being the one to hide the “goods.” In later years, Charles was troubled with late on-set diabetes and heart disease. However, he maintained his ability to travel and was blessed to make each of his daughters’ weddings. At age 61, Charles passed away on July 11, 2014 following a recent health difficulty. He is survived and remembered by the following family members: Brother, Jay Henry Bell, Jr and wife, Jerewyl; Niece, Windi Glogowski and husband, Roger; Nephew, Brian Bell and wife, Vivian; Nephew, Andrew Bell and wife, Lara; Ex-wife, Nan DeTore Bell; Daughter, Dr. Leslie Masem, Daughter, Erin Bull and husband, Bryan, and Daughter, Dr. Brittany Beil and husband, William R; grandson William (Tyler) Beil; Ex-wife, Deborah Bell; step-sons, Robert Reichard, Michael Reichard, and Christopher Reichard; and 3 step-grandchildren, Carmyn Reichard, Pryde Reichard, and Jaydyn Reichard. This week, we honor and celebrate Charles’ life, and although we mourn, we hold tight to the good times we shared. Condolences for the family may be sent to the Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home.

A gathering of friends and memorial will be Wednesday, July 16, 2014, from 6-8 pm at Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home.

Funeral arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st St. Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121