Marilynn J. Bell

Marilynn Jean Christensen Bell passed away on May 8, 2014, in Fayetteville Ark. She was born Aug. 28, 1922, to Thorvald and Rosa Christensen in St. Paul, Neb., and graduated from high school there. Due to WWII, she had to scrap her college plans and attended secretarial school. As a top graduate, she was called to the Pentagon to work in the Cryptology Department of the Army. While in Washington, she married Robert Bell, a former teacher at St. Paul who was stationed there in the Navy. The Rev. Peter Marshall performed the ceremony on Oct. 9, 1943, at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. They celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary before Bob's death in 1990. Bob and Marilynn lived in Colorado, Hastings, Neb., and Topeka, Kan., with some time in Austin, Texas, as Bob completed his academic degrees. After he completed his PhD in 1957, they settled in Fayetteville, Ark., when Bob received an appointment in the University of Arkansas Business School. Marilynn began her long career at J.C. Penney, located on the square, and became one of the first female department merchandise buyers and assistant store manager. She retired from J.C. Penney in 1987. Marilynn and Bob were avid Razorback fans and traveled often to see the Razorbacks play in bowl games. She often spoke about their trip to the Orange Bowl when one of the first successful upsets occurred. Marilynn also remembered many SWC basketball tournament games, especially the win when U.S. Reed had wonderful last second half-court shot. When they were not at Arkansas ball games, they could be seen at every square dance event in the region. After Bob's death, Marilynn continued to attend the games until she was almost 90. In the mid-1980s, she helped establish the Bear Lair Gift Shop at Fayetteville City Hospital. She named the shop for her love of teddy bears. The Bear Lair supported the Fayetteville City Hospital Auxiliary. Marilynn continued to volunteer and manage the shop until 2012, just before City Hospital closed. She was a member of the Altrusa Club of Fayetteville since 1963, serving in leadership positions with the club locally and regionally, finally elected as Governor of District Eight from 1990-1992. Marilynn also served in leadership roles with Fayetteville City Hospital Auxiliary, the Exchangettes and the Arkansas Business wives. She also was a Girl Scout leader, a Sunday school teacher and served as an elder in the First United Presbyterian Church. Marilynn was active all her life in every organization to which she belonged and was recognized by many of these organizations for her contributions. She received one the Washington County Women of the Year awards in 2002 and the Altrusa International Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award in 2005. She had three famous quotes: "if you can't be decorative, then make yourself useful," "anything worth doing is worth doing well" and "Altrusans never say no [when asked to assist with a project]." Marilynn was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Bertram Christensen; and her beloved husband, Bob. She is survived by her three children, David Bell (Chris), Margaret Beaman (Roger) and Carolyn Rash (Jack); and three grandchildren, Robert Bell, David Beaman and Janet Beaman (Eric Dietz); and five great-grandchildren Tyler, Ryan and Megan Beaman, and Sydney and Evan Dietz. A private family graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2014, at Fairview Memorial Gardens. The memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 18, at 1:30 p.m. at First United Presbyterian Church, 643 Calvin St., Fayetteville, Ark. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Altrusa International Foundation, the Robert W. Bell Scholarship Fund at the University of Arkansas or the Fayetteville City Hospital Auxiliary. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore's Chapel, Fayetteville, Ark.