Lillian ‘Maureen’ Bell, age 68, passed away on Tuesday, January 1, 2008, at her home in Anacortes, Washington.
Maureen was born on August 27, 1939 in the town of Douglas on the Isle of Man in Great Britain, the only daughter of Annie Elizabeth Callow Glover and Alfred Henry Glover.
At sixteen, Maureen completed her studies and began working in the formal dining rooms of grand hotels in London, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, eventually immigrating to the United States in 1959. Once in the United States, she met and married George G. Bell, a career Navy man, in Sedro-Woolley on April 18, 1963.
In 1965, while George was serving in Vietnam, Maureen agreed to become a foster parent for a co-workers daughter, thus began her life’s work of helping children. In 1970, George received orders transferring him along with Maureen and children to Visalia, CA. Here she found herself compelled to answer an ad asking for foster parents in Tulare County, CA. Impressed by her willingness to help, the director of children’s services offered Maureen the opportunity to become the director of a small agency for abused and battered children. From 1970 until 1978, Maureen cared for over 1, 800 abused, abandoned, and neglected children. From 1978 until 1982 no matter where George was transferred Maureen found a way to help the children in her area.
In 1982, not long after settling in Anacortes, Maureen saw a struggling population that needed an advocate. She and George began working for Catholic Community Services Northwest in a Group Home Program that provided temporary care and therapeutic programs for family reconciliation. Despite the closure of the program in 1989, Maureen and George continued programs focused on family reconciliation until Maureen was forced to retire in 1992 due to an injury she had sustained while trying to protect a child from self injury.
After her retirement Maureen became an active member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Sedro-Woolley and was the President of the Ladies Guild. Maureen was a past member of the Business and Professional Women’s Organization. She enjoyed crocheting, making candy, baking and during the holidays one might witness a scuffle over the last of her pumpkin bread.
Maureen is survived by her husband, George Bell. Her children; Linda Applin, Anthony Bell, Phyllis Ford, Linda Bennett and her husband John, and Kimberly Morgan and her husband Torrence. Her brothers; James Glover, Joey Glover and Terrence Glover, and William Buttons Callow. A sister, Terry Stoaks and her son, Shane. Ten grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and the thousands of children she has fostered and cared for over the years.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Alfred Henry Glover and Thomas Edward Glover.
A Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 7:00PM at Lemley Chapel with a Funeral Mass on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 12:00 PM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Sedro-Woolley with Father Patrick McDermott, Celebrant. Interment will follow at the Burlington Cemetery. A reception will follow the services at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Parish Hall. Visitation will be available at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley from 9 AM to 5 PM.