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Carney Rickman Bell was born on October 9, 1933 in Nashville, Tennessee, the son of Robert Henry Bell (1893–1952) and Margaret (Rickman) Bell (1895–1972).
Carney, affectionately known by his family as "Pop," grew up in Springfield and loved Robertson County, where he spent much of his time at the Bell Bottom Farm, his family farm in Cedar Hill.
He graduated from Springfield High School and Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. He then joined the US Navy and was commissioned an officer, awarded his wings and proudly served as a Naval Aviator. After his tour of duty, Carney remained in the active Naval Reserve for 20 years and retired as a Commander. During this time Pop often shared his lifelong passion by flying his fighter jet, the A4 Skyhawk, as low as possible over the city of Springfield, of which stories are legendary.
After the death of his father in 1952, he returned to Springfield and served with the late Tom Austin as owner and operator of Austin & Bell Funeral Homes, becoming sole owner after Mr Austin's death. He was a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and continued working at Austin and Bell until his retirement in 2009.
He was married 1st in 1957 to Anne Clarke Haley (1935–1991), and he was married 2nd to Bonnie Lynn Davis (1940–2016).
He enjoyed laughter, much of the time at the expense of others, through his practical jokes, and his passions in life were his family, flying and his farm.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Springfield where he served on the Board. He was also past Commander of The American Legion Post 48, Past President of the Springfield Kiwanis Club, a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner, organizer and the first Chairman of the Robertson County Airport Committee, member of the Kentucky and Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the Gideon's International, former board member of John A Gupton College, Past President of the American Cancer Society of Springfield, Past President of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, as well as Chairman of the Bellwood Cemetery and the Bell-Willett Charitable Foundation.
For the remainder of his life the Bell Bottom Farm became the happy gathering place for the extended family, children, grandchildren and their friends.
Carney and Bonnie built a "dormitory" for the six children and grandchildren, and many an hour was spent by the fire known as the "pit of wisdom" sharing life, laughter and friends.
Living in Springfield, he was 79 years old when he passed away on February 19, 2013.
Preceded in death by his parents and by his brother Robert H Bell Jr, he was survived by his wife Bonnie, a married sister, four married sons, two married daughters, and fourteen grandchildren.
Funeral Services were held at First United Methodist Church in Springfield, Tennessee, and burial was in Bellwood Cemetery in Adams, Tennessee.
Original obituary in The Tennessean on February 20, 2013
Carney Rickman Bell was born on October 9, 1933 in Nashville, Tennessee, the son of Robert Henry Bell (1893–1952) and Margaret (Rickman) Bell (1895–1972).
Carney, affectionately known by his family as "Pop," grew up in Springfield and loved Robertson County, where he spent much of his time at the Bell Bottom Farm, his family farm in Cedar Hill.
He graduated from Springfield High School and Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. He then joined the US Navy and was commissioned an officer, awarded his wings and proudly served as a Naval Aviator. After his tour of duty, Carney remained in the active Naval Reserve for 20 years and retired as a Commander. During this time Pop often shared his lifelong passion by flying his fighter jet, the A4 Skyhawk, as low as possible over the city of Springfield, of which stories are legendary.
After the death of his father in 1952, he returned to Springfield and served with the late Tom Austin as owner and operator of Austin & Bell Funeral Homes, becoming sole owner after Mr Austin's death. He was a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and continued working at Austin and Bell until his retirement in 2009.
He was married 1st in 1957 to Anne Clarke Haley (1935–1991), and he was married 2nd to Bonnie Lynn Davis (1940–2016).
He enjoyed laughter, much of the time at the expense of others, through his practical jokes, and his passions in life were his family, flying and his farm.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Springfield where he served on the Board. He was also past Commander of The American Legion Post 48, Past President of the Springfield Kiwanis Club, a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner, organizer and the first Chairman of the Robertson County Airport Committee, member of the Kentucky and Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the Gideon's International, former board member of John A Gupton College, Past President of the American Cancer Society of Springfield, Past President of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, as well as Chairman of the Bellwood Cemetery and the Bell-Willett Charitable Foundation.
For the remainder of his life the Bell Bottom Farm became the happy gathering place for the extended family, children, grandchildren and their friends.
Carney and Bonnie built a "dormitory" for the six children and grandchildren, and many an hour was spent by the fire known as the "pit of wisdom" sharing life, laughter and friends.
Living in Springfield, he was 79 years old when he passed away on February 19, 2013.
Preceded in death by his parents and by his brother Robert H Bell Jr, he was survived by his wife Bonnie, a married sister, four married sons, two married daughters, and fourteen grandchildren.
Funeral Services were held at First United Methodist Church in Springfield, Tennessee, and burial was in Bellwood Cemetery in Adams, Tennessee.
Original obituary in The Tennessean on February 20, 2013
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Carney Rickman Bell was born on October 9, 1933 in Nashville, Tennessee, the son of Robert Henry Bell (1893–1952) and Margaret (Rickman) Bell (1895–1972).
Carney, affectionately known by his family as "Pop," grew up in Springfield and loved Robertson County, where he spent much of his time at the Bell Bottom Farm, his family farm in Cedar Hill.
He graduated from Springfield High School and Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. He then joined the US Navy and was commissioned an officer, awarded his wings and proudly served as a Naval Aviator. After his tour of duty, Carney remained in the active Naval Reserve for 20 years and retired as a Commander. During this time Pop often shared his lifelong passion by flying his fighter jet, the A4 Skyhawk, as low as possible over the city of Springfield, of which stories are legendary.
After the death of his father in 1952, he returned to Springfield and served with the late Tom Austin as owner and operator of Austin & Bell Funeral Homes, becoming sole owner after Mr Austin's death. He was a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and continued working at Austin and Bell until his retirement in 2009.
He was married 1st in 1957 to Anne Clarke Haley (1935–1991), and he was married 2nd to Bonnie Lynn Davis (1940–2016).
He enjoyed laughter, much of the time at the expense of others, through his practical jokes, and his passions in life were his family, flying and his farm.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Springfield where he served on the Board. He was also past Commander of The American Legion Post 48, Past President of the Springfield Kiwanis Club, a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner, organizer and the first Chairman of the Robertson County Airport Committee, member of the Kentucky and Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the Gideon's International, former board member of John A Gupton College, Past President of the American Cancer Society of Springfield, Past President of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, as well as Chairman of the Bellwood Cemetery and the Bell-Willett Charitable Foundation.
For the remainder of his life the Bell Bottom Farm became the happy gathering place for the extended family, children, grandchildren and their friends.
Carney and Bonnie built a "dormitory" for the six children and grandchildren, and many an hour was spent by the fire known as the "pit of wisdom" sharing life, laughter and friends.
Living in Springfield, he was 79 years old when he passed away on February 19, 2013.
Preceded in death by his parents and by his brother Robert H Bell Jr, he was survived by his wife Bonnie, a married sister, four married sons, two married daughters, and fourteen grandchildren.
Funeral Services were held at First United Methodist Church in Springfield, Tennessee, and burial was in Bellwood Cemetery in Adams, Tennessee.
Original obituary in The Tennessean on February 20, 2013
Carney Rickman Bell was born on October 9, 1933 in Nashville, Tennessee, the son of Robert Henry Bell (1893–1952) and Margaret (Rickman) Bell (1895–1972).
Carney, affectionately known by his family as "Pop," grew up in Springfield and loved Robertson County, where he spent much of his time at the Bell Bottom Farm, his family farm in Cedar Hill.
He graduated from Springfield High School and Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. He then joined the US Navy and was commissioned an officer, awarded his wings and proudly served as a Naval Aviator. After his tour of duty, Carney remained in the active Naval Reserve for 20 years and retired as a Commander. During this time Pop often shared his lifelong passion by flying his fighter jet, the A4 Skyhawk, as low as possible over the city of Springfield, of which stories are legendary.
After the death of his father in 1952, he returned to Springfield and served with the late Tom Austin as owner and operator of Austin & Bell Funeral Homes, becoming sole owner after Mr Austin's death. He was a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and continued working at Austin and Bell until his retirement in 2009.
He was married 1st in 1957 to Anne Clarke Haley (1935–1991), and he was married 2nd to Bonnie Lynn Davis (1940–2016).
He enjoyed laughter, much of the time at the expense of others, through his practical jokes, and his passions in life were his family, flying and his farm.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Springfield where he served on the Board. He was also past Commander of The American Legion Post 48, Past President of the Springfield Kiwanis Club, a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner, organizer and the first Chairman of the Robertson County Airport Committee, member of the Kentucky and Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the Gideon's International, former board member of John A Gupton College, Past President of the American Cancer Society of Springfield, Past President of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, as well as Chairman of the Bellwood Cemetery and the Bell-Willett Charitable Foundation.
For the remainder of his life the Bell Bottom Farm became the happy gathering place for the extended family, children, grandchildren and their friends.
Carney and Bonnie built a "dormitory" for the six children and grandchildren, and many an hour was spent by the fire known as the "pit of wisdom" sharing life, laughter and friends.
Living in Springfield, he was 79 years old when he passed away on February 19, 2013.
Preceded in death by his parents and by his brother Robert H Bell Jr, he was survived by his wife Bonnie, a married sister, four married sons, two married daughters, and fourteen grandchildren.
Funeral Services were held at First United Methodist Church in Springfield, Tennessee, and burial was in Bellwood Cemetery in Adams, Tennessee.
Original obituary in The Tennessean on February 20, 2013
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