James Douglas Bell

A Graveside Service will be held at Laurel Land - Rose Hill Memorial Park, located at 7301 East Lancaster Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76112 on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM

He was a cherished son, brother, cousin, and friend, and his presence will be deeply missed. Doug was the son of the late James Dawkins Bell and Virginia Ruth Bell and was born and reared in Fort Worth, Texas. Education was always important in his home as his father was a principal and his mother was a first-grade teacher with Fort Worth ISD. Doug was a 1970 graduate of Eastern Hills High School in Fort Worth, Texas, and earned a BA degree in 1974 from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.

Doug was a lifetime member of Polytechnic United Methodist Church. He was devoted to his family and friends. He worked for The Hartford Insurance in Texas and transferred to Reno in 1989, where he retired around 2007. Following retirement, he continued as a consultant for the company. Doug had a wide array of interests. It was not unusual to find him cooking, gardening, traveling to the wine country, or eating good food. He enjoyed photography and created beautiful stained glass. Doug appreciated art and music and always had a variety of artists’ music playing in his home. He enjoyed travel within the United States and internationally, taking his parents on cruises and road trips.

Doug stayed current with technology helping friends with any digital problem. He was very resourceful and enjoyed thrifting and collecting antiques and wine. He greatly enjoyed visiting Reno’s casinos…for the buffet! His favorite pastime was connecting with friends. He was always just a phone call away and ready to lend a helping hand or a listening ear. Doug’s sense of humor and storytelling brightened the room wherever he went. His beloved rescue dog, Sandy, was his constant companion.

Doug is preceded in death by his parents, James Dawkins Bell and Virginia Ruth Bell, and his sister, Dana Ruth Bell Creger.

Survivors include his cousin, Linda Jo Sanders and a host of relatives and friends. Special thanks go to Alberta, Juleen, and Dung, former coworkers and friends in Reno.

Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice. Doug was dedicated to donating to nonprofits.