James Curtis Bell Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

James Curtis Bell February 7, 1937 - January 12, 2016 James Curtis Cobb was born February 7, 1937 in Covington, Tennessee to the late James Curtis Cobb and Willa Mae Wright (Bell). His mother re-married and he was adopted by his step-father Willie Bell. James attended public schools in Gary, Indiana and graduated from Froebel High School. He attended Indiana University for two years before enlisting in the U.S. Army. After a short stint in the military he returned home and worked at the Gary Steel Mill and RR Donnelly Publishing in Chicago, Illinois. He realized that manual labor was not for him. He went back to school and earned a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health from Ferris State University and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Indiana University. Jim worked in a number of career fields; Public Housing Relocation and Urban Renewal, Health Care Administration and Recruitment and Legislative Affairs. He lived and worked in Gary, South Bend, East St. Louis, Chicago and Houston. In 1987 he retired from Ancilla Domina Catholic Health Systems and started his own consulting firm CAI Executive Search. His passion became recruitment. He worked tirelessly to match the right people to their perfect job. Jim was instrumental in finding work for many engineers, doctors, dentists, and nurses. He would spend many hours in his home office working late into the evenings and on many weekends. On April 23, 1976 while leaving a business convention in Washington, DC he met his soulmate Jacqueline Harley who he affectionately called "Jackie Marie". Three years later on the same date they were united in matrimony. Jim and Jackie later relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. On January 10, 1981 their son Justin Curtis Cobb-Bell was born. Jim vowed to be the father he never had so he gave up his sports car a Porsche 914 Boxer. But for 2 years you could often see him and Justin driving around St. Louis with the top back enjoying the ride. With his golf clubs in tow he relished the time watching Justin grow-up and participate in many sports. Jim was an active "parent" fan and spectator at soccer, tee ball, baseball and basketball games, golf courses and track events where Justin won many trophies, medals, and ribbons along the way. Jim loved life, jazz, and people, cooking (grill master), traveling and family. His travels took him far and near. He visited almost every state, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Canada, Morocco, Tangiers, Jamaica, and St. Martens with his son and wife by his side. He often accompanied his wife on her business trips, picking and choosing locations based on weather conditions he never wanted to travel north during the winter months. Jim, Justin and Jackie spent the last week of October together enjoying a trip in Puerto Rico. They were planning a trip to Prague in June, 2016 as his next adventure. Jackie and Jim enjoyed Friday "date nights" at their favorite Mexican restaurants (Donaraki and Los Reyes) where they spent hours dinning and socializing with friends. During the holidays Jim made an annual batch of homemade Kahula to share with friends (but not his secret recipe). Family also looked forward to his famous smoked turkey. Jim will always be remembered as a strong-willed, opinionated and spirited husband, father, friend, brother-in-law, uncle, mentor and confidant. He was always available to share his wisdom and knowledge whether you wanted to hear it or not. He called a spade a spade and when required he used a few other choice words. He had a sharp mind and memory and was an avid history buff. Lifelong friends often called him for names, dates and places of childhood and early adult events and he never failed to fill in the details for them. Jim was a caring and faithful friend. He will be remembered for his weekly calls to old friends in Detroit, Gary, Florida, San Antonio, California, Atlanta, Maryland and Minneapolis to just check in and touch base with them. Jim departed this life quietly on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 following a short illness. He was 78 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents and step-father. He leaves to cherish his memory a loving wife and son; 3 sister-in-law's, Christine Dozier, Marlene Matthews and Doreen Harley, one brother-in-law Morris Thomas Harley (Shirlee); devoted nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives, friends and neighbors; his extended brother friends Henry McDonald, Jerome Cook, Walker Kemp, William Matthews, Ruben Jones and Benjamin Preston. Jim touched the lives of many during his life, and although he will be missed his family finds comfort in knowing that GOD did not make a mistake in calling him home.