OTIS – Mathel I. Bell, 90, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006, at an Ellsworth hospital. She was born Nov. 22, 1915, in Mariaville, the daughter of Fred and Helen (Hanscom) Dority. Mathel lived in Otis since her marriage to Edward Bell in 1941. Edward predeceased her in 1977. She continued to maintain her home until she moved to her son’s home in December of 2002, where she was under the wonderful care of her daughter-in-law. Mathel joined Mariaville Grange No. 441 at the age of 14 and was an avid supporter of the organization all her life. She held several offices during that time. Mathel was also a member of Green Mountain Pomona No. 26, the Maine State Grange, and an honorary member of the National Grange. Mathel was very active as a fundraiser for community projects and the American Cancer Society, and was the school bus driver in Otis for more than 20 years. She is survived by two children, son, Lester Bell and his wife, Judy and daughter, Ilene Moore, all of Otis; four grandchildren, Ann Austin and her husband, Scott, of Mariaville, Lisa Carter and her husband, Chuck, of Otis, Suzanne Gumpp and her husband, Michael, of Fuquay Varina, N.C.; Damon Bell and his fiance, Amy, of Otis; seven great-grandchildren, Brian, Benjamin and Stephen Austin, Hailee and Carli Carter, Jenna Bell, and Grace Gumpp; a brother, Arthur Dority and his wife, Joanne, of Ellsworth; a sister, Agnes Macey and her husband, Robert, of Hookset, N.H.; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her husband, Mathel was predeceased by two brothers, Erland and Millard Dority; two sisters, Erva Grindle and Audrey Bull; and a great-granddaughter, Emily M. Gumpp. Graveside memorial and committal services will be held in the springtime at Evergreen Cemetery in Otis. Gifts in memory of Mathel may be sent to the Mariaville Grange, care of Joanne Dority, 593 Mariaville Road, Ellsworth, ME 04605. Cremation arrangements are by Bragdon-Kelley-Campbell Funeral Home, Ellsworth.
MATHEL I. BELL
