SALLY LYNNE BELL (nee: THORNE) 

Sally Lynne Bell (nee: Thorne) died September 7, 2022 following a lengthy battle with a bone marrow cancer. Sally was born in Columbiana County, Ohio to Robert Bruce and Betty Thorne on May 3, 1951. She graduated from Southern Local High School (1969) and Kent State University (1973) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation Therapy. Sally worked her entire professional career with special needs populations or the elderly. Sally is survived by her husband, Richard, whom she married June 1, 1974. It is common knowledge that Sally’s mother was totally in awe of Sally’s luck in marrying Rich as she told her on many occasions “You could have searched the world over and never have found another man like Rich”. And then Sally’s friends picked up the amazements and conferred on him, the title of Saint Rich. 

To say that family was important to Rich and Sally would be hard to argue. Their greatest entertainment was attending extended family events and their own kids’ athletic events, school concerts and church programs. 

Sally was active in Chardon Boosters and The After Prom Committee when her children were in high school. She taught Sunday School including Confirmation Classes as they were growing up in the Chardon United Methodist Church. She was also a 4H Co-Leader for several years, enabling every child on her street to participate in this education-based program. When some of the children were too young to officially participate in 4H, including the judging of their projects, she found knowledgeable volunteers to walk the younger participants through a similar judging experience, even awarding each child a ribbon for their project. 

It was also when the children were young, that Sally became active in the United Methodist Women, serving in several roles in this mission driven group. Through her years in the church, Sally was the Lay Leader and was also trained as a Lay Speaker, serving as a monthly Sunday Faith Leader for many years in a local long term care facility. In her later years, through her church, she led a Bible Study group and a monthly group for senior citizens, these faith-based programs were both social and service based. 

She is survived by: her five children and their spouses, Aaron (Colleen) Bell, Nathan (Amy) Bell, Sarah (Chris) Riggs, Jonathan (Ashley) Bell, Lauren (Eric) Bright; nine grandchildren, Ben and Morgan Riggs, Elijah, McVehil and Trent Bell, Caleb and Cleo Bell, and Sawyer and Mila Bell; three brothers, Bob Thorne, Chai Thorne and Bud (Carole) Thorne and Bill’s wife, Shirley; three sisters, Sarah Leatha (Mike) Benza, Kay (Rick) Gray and Sue (Tom) Frerick. She also leaves: her brother-in-law, Roger (Charlotte) Bell; sisters-in-law, Mary Gifford (Dave) and Pat Neuman; and approximately 200 nieces, nephews and greats on both sides of the family. 

Sally was preceded in death by: her parents; her oldest brother, Bill Thorne; and four sisters-in­ law, Karen Thompson, Kathy Bell, Lyla Thorne (Chai) and Jene Thorne (Bob). 

Visitation will be held Friday, September 16, 2022 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South Street, Chardon. A Memorial Service will be held at the Chardon United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 17, at 11:00 am. Friends and family may gather with Rich and the family at 10:00 am in the Church atrium prior to the service. A luncheon will be served at the church immediately following the service, where family and friends may share stories, laughter and great memories. The interment will be private at a later time. 

Although Sally loved flowers and appreciates your thoughtfulness where they are concerned, she specifically requested that instead you choose to remember her by taking a family member, a friend, a senior citizen or a child out to dinner, or to the zoo or to a museum! Go create a memory, have a laugh, experience joy because really, isn’t that what life is all about?

May God bless each of you and may His spirit of love and joy be celebrated.

Arrangements made by the Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Chardon, OH.  Information and condolences on-line at www.burrservice.com