Steven Bell, 57
Steven Hamilton Bell was born March 4, 1967, in Hampton, Va., to Alonzo R. Bell, Sr. and Margaret Shearin Bell. A native of Newport News, Va., he was a star student and an even better husband, father, son, brother and uncle.
Growing up in Virginia, Steve spent summers at the beach with his grandmother, learning to surf and catching crabs. In middle school, he was a page for the Virginia State Legislature and the Virginia State Champion in the Operation Driver Excellence youth safe driving competition. Steve graduated with honors from Denbigh High School in 1985, where he played football, basketball and the saxophone in the band.
He was a 1990 graduate from Virginia Polytechnic University (VA Tech) with a degree in education and sports management and loved his alma mater! He also played football for VA Tech and rarely missed watching a game. We'll always think of him when the Hokies play.
One of the many remarkable things about Steve was his welcoming personality. He easily made friends and still regularly spoke with friends from high school and college. He knew all neighbors' names and would often pick up a conversation and share a laugh with anyone. Steve was artistic, creative and talented with the hair clippers, periodically cutting his sons' hair, much to their chagrin!
Steven enjoyed competitive sports — participating, spectating and coaching. At age 54, he trained and completed a triathlon in Coeur d'Alene and coached high school basketball and lacrosse while also coaching his son's flag football team.
Steve, affectionately called Goose by his brother, was the younger of the siblings. He grew up wanting to do everything his older brother did. Best friends, the two shared a sense of humor and could always make the other laugh.
Steve's daughter, Chelsea (1993), was the first grandchild of the Bell family. He met his wife, Melisa, in Virginia in 2004 on a Shenandoah River floating trip. They moved to Melisa's hometown in Idaho, where they started their family with the birth of sons Benjamin (2016) and Andrew (2021). Steve truly loved being a father and uncle.
Cherished memories of Steve will be held in the hearts of many, including wife Melisa Carper Bell, daughter Chelsea White, sons Benjamin and Andrew, parents Alonzo Sr. and Margaret, brother Alonzo Jr. (Sandi) and nieces Alecia and Alexis. Steve was preceded in death by his son, Alexander.
We wish to thank our loving community for their comfort and support during this incredibly difficult time. We know the memory of this incredible man will live on in our hearts forever. To help keep his memory alive for his young sons, please consider writing a letter sharing your stories and memories of Steve to memoriesofstevenbell@gmail.com.
A memorial will be held Jan. 4 at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. at New Beech Grove Baptist Church in Newport News, Va.
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