Susan Ann (Snyder) Bell

Susan Ann Bell, age 77, passed away at her home in Sierra Vista, AZ on January 7, 2025, surrounded by loving family. Susan graduated from high school in Adams, NY in 1966. In December of 1967, she married Patrick J. Bell who had recently been commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army, thus beginning their 22 year military career. Susan served as the consummate officer's wife throughout her husband's career, fully engaged with various wives clubs and programs. She was also active in numerous youth sports groups, community projects, and special programs to support deployed soldiers, all while being completely committed as a devoted wife to Patrick and loving Mom to sons Jeff and Chris.

Throughout her husband's military career and his subsequent career with the City of Sierra Vista, Susan was an accomplished artist, interior designer, Super Mom, and proud community service advocate. She conceived and served as team artist for Sierra Vista's "Santas in the Park" program which resulted in 53 eight foot tall individual Santa figures, all hand painted by her and her assistant, and each representing a different Santa from throughout the world. At the completion of this 8-month project in 2006, all Santas were donated to the city. This project is now the centerpiece of the city's annual holiday program at Veterans Park and has attracted thousands of visitors to the showpiece event. She and her principal assistant were later jointly awarded "Artist of the year" for Cochise County.

Susan was preceded in death by her dad, Charles N. Snyder, who passed in 2012. She is survived by her loving husband Patrick with whom she recently celebrated their 57° anniversary; son Jeffery (Anita) Bell of Tucson; son Christopher Bell of Denver; grandsons Tyler Bell, Sage Bell and Ian Bell; granddaughters Emily (Robert) Gutierrez and Sophia Bell; great grandchildren Victor and Willow Gutierrez; her mother Dorothy Snyder, sister Sandra (Dale) Berry of Sierra Vista, and nieces/nephews Nathan Berry, Shawn Berry, and Hope Reed and their families.

A memorial service will be held at Hatfield's Funeral Home in Sierra Vista on Thursday, January 16 at Noon, followed by a committal service at the Chapel of the Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Sierra Vista, at 2:00pm.

Susan will be interred in the VA Cemetery columbarium where she will later be joined by Patrick upon his death.

The family wishes to especially thank the staff at Casa De La Paz Hospice for their compassionate, personal and highly skilled care of Susan.

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