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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 2016)
Wednesday, August 10, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 9 Obituary Michelle Leigh Bell gregory Karl Brand December 8, 1968 — July 19, 2016 July 3, 1959 — May 28, 2016 In honor of a wonderful life that ended far too soon, the family of Michelle Leigh Bell will host a celebration of her life at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 13, at the Sisters Westside Church. Demonstrating her indom- itable spirit and perseverance throughout her four-year battle with cancer, Michelle, 47, passed away on July 19 at Partners In Care’s Hospice House in Bend following an outpouring of love from her family and many, many close friends. Born on December 8, 1968 in Denver, Colorado to Bruce and Nancy Blakeslee, Michelle attended public schools in Colorado, Missouri and Arizona before attending Arizona State University in Tempe. Michelle moved to Portland in 1994 to be close to her mother, Nancy, and her stepfather, Jack Beeman. There, Michelle met Sean Bell, of Portland, and they were married on September 14, 1996. Sean and Michelle have three sons, Blake, Conner, and Carson. The family moved from West Linn to Sisters in 2008, where Michelle became an active volunteer at the Sisters Elementary School while continuing her office man- agement and bookkeeping business that spanned nearly 20 years. She also supported her husband’s growing business, Solutions Yes, a Portland- based office equipment dealer where Sean is the president. Immersing herself in an active life in Sisters, Michelle owned several horses that expanded her chores around their family ranch. She enjoyed camping vacations to the Oregon coast, Detroit Lake and Prineville Reservoir as well as international travel. Recognizing the benefits of family sports, Michelle, Sean and their three sons became active in Outlaw Martial Arts, a Taekwondo studio in Sisters. Even after being diagnosed with can- cer, Michelle continued her martial arts training, earn- ing a High Blue Belt. Out of respect for her Black Belt level courtesy, integrity, per- severance, self-control and indomitable spirit, the five tenets of Taekwondo, Outlaw Martial Arts bestowed Michelle with an Honorary Black Belt on January 10, 2015. Michelle’s motivation also spurred her son, Conner, to earn his Black Belt at the age of 12. Michelle is survived by her husband, Sean; and sons, Blake, Conner, and Carson. Her mother, Nancy Beeman; and step-father, Jack Beeman, of Sisters; her grandmother, Irene Elder of Mesa, AZ; and two uncles, Chet Elder of Denver and John Pierce of Mesa. Her family also includes her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Brian Bell and Karen Shepard of Bend; and her sister-in-law, Heather John and her husband Mark and their children, Lucy and Ethan of Portland. Her father, Bruce and her brother, Troy, preceded her in death. The Bell family wishes to thank the many, many care- givers who worked so hard to find a cure for Michelle’s cancer from St. Charles Bend, Fred Hutchison Cancer Center in Seattle, Providence Portland Medical Center, Come In… Relax…Enjoy! Tim Westcott Ronnica Westcott Jenny Duey Mary Morgan 541-588-6611 220 W. Cascade Ave. Come in, Relax, Enjoy! Northwest Wines, Friends & Cuisine Exceptional Cuisine at the Metolius River S D ؏ Go to www.kokaneecafe.cos for reservations or call 541-595-6420 MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and OHSU, as well as the very comforting care from Partners in Care of Bend. N i s w o n g e r- R e y n o l d s Funeral Home of Bend pro- vided cremation. In lieu of flowers people are encouraged to make a donation to the Sisters Schools Foundation, Inc. in her name. The Sisters Westside Church is located at 442 Trinity Way, Sisters. Gregory Karl Brand was a long-time resident of Blue Lake, Suttle Lake, Caldera, Sisters area. He was born in Covina, California. Raised in San Gabriel Valley in Southern California. He died suddenly of natural causes while taking his usual morning walk with his dog, Lazzie. He is survived by his mother, Joyce Brand Class; sisters, Christina Lauer and Teresa Clemmer; and two nieces, Rosie and Holly Lauer. On Friday, July 8, a memorial was held for him on the Gary Lovegren family property where he resided for the past 16 years. Pastor Mike Golden of Calvary Chapel Sisters conducted the service while so many of his “extended family” and close friends joined in the celebra- tion of his happy and joyful life here in God’s country as he served Him. A few of his interests were dogs, of which he had several, motorcycle riding all around the West Coast, and working around young peo- ple. Although he never had children, much of his work- ing experience was around youth at youth camps. He loved working with youth, a talent God blessed him with, and they loved him in return. He received many testimoni- als at his memorial reflect- ing his love of youths and Jesus.
