Thaine Lynn Bell Jr.

On Friday, June 11, 2021, Thaine Lynn Bell Jr., a loving husband and father, passed away at the age of 76 in Rio Dell, California.

Thaine was born on February 27, 1945 in San Diego, California to Thaine Sr. and Olivia (Ourada) Bell. He was the youngest of his four siblings. He grew up and went to school in the Linda Vista area. He spent some of his young adult life traveling throughout the United States and meeting a variety of people. He had many stories to tell of those he had met and his experiences along the way. In 1979, he met the love of his life in Salem, Oregon. On March 26, 1980, he married Maureen Lehnen in Coos Bay, Oregon then on September 21, 1980, his only child was born, his daughter, Mary. He lived in Coos Bay and North Bend, Oregon until 1985 then moved his family to the Northern California area, where they lived in Trinidad before settling in Eureka in 1986. In 2008, Thaine moved to Shasta Lake, California with his daughter and son-in-law then moved back to Humboldt County in 2017, settling in Rio Dell, California.

Thaine always had a passion for poetry and art, spending most of his life creating abstract drawings, paintings and sculptures as well as writing many poems. He and his wife loved to frequent local coffee shops and art galleries in Old Town, Eureka. He met so many wonderful and kind people there. He enjoyed being around people and was always so kind to whomever he met. He would offer to help anyone in need even if he was not sure how. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh, finding the best in most situations. He enjoyed being outdoors and taking in the beauty of nature. He was Catholic and enjoyed going to church with his wife and daughter at St. Bernard’s Parish in Eureka, California. He and his wife renewed their wedding vows there in 2005. He and his wife had struggled with their mental health and were both advocates for ending the stigmatization of mental illness. In recent years, Thaine frequented The Hope Center in Eureka, where he enjoyed the discussion groups, outings and playing games with his friends there.

Thaine was preceded in death by his parents, Thaine L. Bell Sr. and Olivia (Ourada) Bell, brothers Harry L. Bell and Richard T. Bell, sister Grace (Bell) Sherrill, and wife Maureen C. (Lehnen) Bell. He is survived his daughter, Mary Bell-Owen, son-in-law, Jason Owen, and grandson, Cooper Owen. He is also survived by his sister, Katherine (Bell) Coleman, and many nieces and nephews: Theresa Duval, Dawna Furr, Dianne Sellers, Cynthia Roane, Olivia Haro, Debra, Richard Bell, Laura Walters, David, Jeffrey, Steven, Kenneth, Michael, Gordon, and George.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 28, 2021 at 10AM at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 615 H Street in Eureka. A Celebration of his life will be held afterward at Chapala’s Mexican Restaurant at 12 PM.  Flowers or Plants in lieu of flowers may be sent to the church or to 906 Hilda Ct, Rio Dell, CA.