Mary Elizabeth Archer Bell (June 23, 1923 �" May 1, 2018) passed away Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at the Johnson City Medical Center.
Elizabeth was born to Andrew and Rosa Rogers Archer on June 23, 1923 in the Lamar Community.
She was nicknamed “Jib”, which is how she was known to all, by her younger sister Ginny. She lived in the home place that her father built her entire life and was always a caregiver to her 4 siblings.
She was a graduate of Lamar High School.
Bethesda United Methodist Church is where she was a faithful member throughout her life, and she served as the Youth Leader during the 1950’s and 1960’s when her nieces and nephews were in the youth.
She retired after laboring hard many years in sewing factories, first at Industrial Garment in Erwin, the later at Levi Strauss and Co. in Johnson City.
On May 23, 1952, she married Edgar Bell and they enjoyed many years together of fishing and making big catches in area lakes and winning many trophies in the church bowling league. Her love of flowers is something that she shared and taught to many in her family and community. She had a fascination for flying and to celebrate her 80th birthday, her family surprised her with an airplane ride with her great and great-great nephews, and then later with a helicopter ride also with her great-great nephews. Both times she was flown over her home, able to see all the Archer property.
She was preceded in death by her infant son, Marion and her husband Edgar; also, by her brothers Richard (Dick), Robert (Bob), Fred and his wife Sue, and her best friend and younger sister, Virginia (Ginny) and her husband Glen.
She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Miriam Archer, Jonesborough and Pauline Archer Phillips (Billy), Johnson City; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
Per her wishes, there will only be a graveside service at 10:00 am at Bethesda United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 5, 2018.
Pallbearers will be nephews and great nephews. Also, according to her wishes, there are to be no flowers sent, only donations made to the Holston Home for Children in Greeneville. Following this service, family and friends may fellowship at the Tolley home at 216 Archer Road, Jonesborough.