Obituary of James Henry Bell

August 10, 1936 - Calgary, Alberta

September 21, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

Jim Bell of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the age of 88 years.

Jim was born on August 10, 1936, in the Calgary Western Hospital, which later became a rooming house on the NW corner of 14th Ave and 2nd Street SW.

He grew up in the farming community of Irricana, northeast of Calgary. After graduating from Kathyrn High School in 1954, Jim took a Laboratory Technology course at SAIT. That training enabled him to secure a job in the Production Research department of Imperial Oil in Calgary. During his twenty-eight years with Esso, he worked on Arctic geotechnical projects, laboratory pipeline rheology studies, and then on laboratory models of steam stimulation studies for the in-situ recovery of heavy oil at Cold Lake.

Retiring from Esso at the age of 55, Jim was free to pursue his many personal hobbies. He belonged to numerous hiking, mountain climbing, skiing, and social clubs. His photography hobby was developed at an early age, continued throughout his job at Esso, and he carried it into his retirement with many captured memories of his penchant for world travel and spending time with family. When not pursuing his hobbies, he busied himself with being a condo board member and taking care of his property holdings. Learning many skills in their routine maintenance and improvements, he enjoyed being a project manager and passing his knowledge along to others.

His love of gardening was always evident, no matter what property he worked on, and shared plants, trees, and shrubs with friends and neighbours. His legacy will literally live on through his generous “green thumb” efforts in both Irricana and Calgary.

The family would like to thank the medical and support staff of the George Boyack Carewest Facility in Calgary for their care and compassion in Jim’s last few months with us and until his passing.

Funeral Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street N, Calgary, AB) on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Jim’s family here.

In living memory of James (Jim) Bell, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-276-2296.