Anthony William Powell Bell – or as we knew and
loved him « Tony »,
« Dad », and
« Grampie » – was a
kind-hearted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle,
nephew, cousin, and friend. With dreams far from over, Tony
left this world much too soon on Friday, October 22, 2021, at the age
of 55.
Tony was born in Truro to a family surrounded by love. The
second child of Billy and Barbara Bell, Tony was raised on McCallum
Settlement Road in North River with sister, Becky and brothers, Kevin,
Derrick, and Chris. Tony would tell you that Kevin got all the new
clothes and attention, so he got hand-me-downs and walked both ways to
and from North River Elementary School, although those who knew him
could figure that might not have exactly been the case. Tony
loved his parents and siblings. He loved sports and the outdoors. He
took a particular interest in baseball, broomball, soccer, basketball,
hockey, and also took up weightlifting, competing on the Nova Scotia
weightlifting team at the Canada Winter Games in 1983. He loved to
fish and hunt, go three-wheeling, or just be out for a drive through
back roads. Tony grew up finding fun with best friend, Todd Tattrie.
He loved to golf and connect with people on the golf course and had
great fun doing so with long-time friend, Charlie
McGill.
After graduating high school in Truro, Tony pursued his
passion of the outdoors and earned a surveying diploma attending the
Nova Scotia Land Survey Institute,
Lawrencetown.
In 1986, Tony began his 29-year career as a driver salesman
delivering ‘The Dairy Best’ for Brookfield Dairy,
later known as Scotsburn. Over the years, Tony was ‘the
milkman’ to countless area homes, starting each day at 2
a.m. delivering cartons and bags to doorsteps displaying their blue
‘milk please’ sign in exchange for cash or tokens
– at several stops trusted to enter and place into the
refrigerator. Tony also delivered to area businesses,
including offices, convenience stores, and Tim Hortons. He
was a hard worker who thrived on interactions with people and made
many good friendships with his colleagues. Following
Scotsburn’s sale of its fluid milk division, Tony hung up
his truck keys for the last time.
Soon thereafter, Tony worked as a driver salesman for
A.L.P.A. Equipment, selling heavy construction machinery and parts
across Nova Scotia. Tony learned a great deal about the industry,
truly enjoyed working with and knowing his colleagues, and excelled at
building client relationships which brought him success, but he longed
for more time outside of work and what he’d spent his career
doing – driving a truck.
Tony was hired at Wilsons Heating in 2019 on the same day he
had been hired at Brookfield 33 years earlier, and he began delivering
home heating fuel in Truro and area. It was working for Wilsons that
allowed Tony the flexibility he wanted for himself, to be with family,
a chance to golf, and to build a cottage. He was thankful to be able
to spend more time with the people he loved, and while Tony was a
dedicated employee, his greatest work was his
family.
Tony first met his wife, Jackie at a North River Fire Hall
dance, and they were married May 19, 1989. As newlyweds, Tony and
Jackie lived in Lower Onslow where they welcomed their first son,
Mitchell, and then moved to Hiram Lynds Road, North River, where they
welcomed their second son, Nicholas. In their 32 years, Tony and
Jackie built a life they loved together. He was forever proud of his
two boys and their accomplishments, and dearly loved his one-year-old
grandson, Landon. He was excited to continue to watch his family grow
in the years ahead. Tony loved all his family and enjoyed
any opportunity to gather together. In all Tony did, he had
his family and friends at heart. He was someone who always went out of
his way to lend a hand, truly cared about people, and enjoyed making
others around him happy with a laugh along the way.
Tony took great pride in maintaining his home, yard, and
vehicles. He would often be found mowing, mulching, or mulling over
what he could get done before the sun set that day. After his boys
bought their own homes, Tony expanded his watch, extending his own
to-do list and would be found from time to time – without
warning – mowing, raking, liming or fertilizing their
yards. Tony liked to keep his vehicles clean, so much so
that you’d wonder how he hadn’t washed the paint
off yet. It was not unusual to see Tony bring home his milk truck,
A.L.P.A. SUV, or Wilson’s truck for washing, polishing, and
cleaning the interior. If you had stopped at their house at the right
time, chances are your car likely made it in the queue as well. Tony
enjoyed using his four-wheeler or old truck right from home for drives
through the woods – relaxation for him in counting
partridge.
Over the last number of years, Tony and Jackie found joy at
their Cape John property on weekends and during vacations. Cape John
provided a new opportunity to gather friends and family often, which
Tony loved. While he was consistently found working on his next idea,
he always stopped to enjoy the company of others who dropped in
– especially neighbour and friend, Willis
Langille. With retirement in mind and a wish to leave
something permanent for his family, over the past year Tony built a
cottage for him and Jackie nearly singlehandedly at the Cape until
diagnosed with cancer in late July. His labour of love now
serves as a legacy for his family to gather, relax, and enjoy
– with him around us.
Tony was caring, happy, funny, a lover of life and family,
optimistic, resourceful, strong-willed, and had a solution to just
about anything. He had a unique way of making those around him happy.
He was the heart and rock of our lives and will be dearly missed. His
story will not end here.
Tony is survived by his wife of 32 years, Jacqueline Marie
(Soy) « Jackie »; sons, Mitchell Alexander
Powell and his wife, Nicole Marie (Illsley), Nicholas Anthony Powell
and his wife, Rebecca Audrey Marie (Denton); grandson, Landon Anthony
Phillip and granddaughter to be, Emma; mother, Barbara Jane Powell
« Barb » Bell and mother-in-law, Judith
Carol « Judy » Soy; brothers, Kevin and his
wife, Audrey, Derrick « Dickie » and his wife, Cindy,
Christopher « Chris » and his wife, Kenda; sister,
Rebecca « Becky »; sister-in-law, Laurie McClellan
and her husband, Danny; sister-in-law, Kelly Veniott; aunts and
uncles, Heather Creelman and her husband, Gary, Carrie Dow and her
husband, Dale, Chester Marshall and his wife, Linda, Sherman Marshall,
Danny Marshall and his wife, Colleen, Susan Mosher and her husband,
Mark; nieces and nephews, Shawn Veniott and his wife, Crystal, Ricky
McClellan, Karla Veniott and her wife, Kirsten, Ryan Goodall-McClellan
and his husband, Colin, Patrick Bell and his fiancée,
Dominique, Katlyn Bell, Matthew Bell, Brandi Bell, Gregory Routledge,
Cameron Bell, Sarah Routledge, Alex Bell, Jillise Veniott, Ashton
McClellan, Marshall McClellan, Serenity D’Entremont; many
cousins and friends.
Tony was predeceased by his father, William « Billy »
Bell; father-in-law, R. Cornelius « Con » Soy; grandparents,
William « Billy » and Charlotte « Peg » Bell, Chester
and Nellie Marshall; great-grandmothers, Susan Johnson and Margaret
MacCallum; uncle, John Bell.
Tony’s family wishes to express their thanks and
appreciation for the love and support through an outpouring of cards,
calls, visits, food, and comfort shown from family, friends,
colleagues, neighbours, and strangers during these last months of
Tony’s life. Thank you to Wilsons Heating for dedicating
Tony’s truck to his yard since July as a sign of hope for a
return to normal life – a simple act that meant a great
deal. A special thank you to Dr. Maya Kovacs who, at the most
overwhelming point in life, provided an extraordinary level of care,
comfort, and warm support to Tony and his family which made such a
positive impact on the journey. Thank you to lifelong family friend,
Charlene Tattrie, who provided love and kindness to all of our family.
A special thank you also to nurse, Cheryl and Dr. Cortney Smith of the
palliative care team, Dr. Don Rowe, Dr. Trevor Locke, and V.O.N.
nurses, with special thanks to Jean and Candace that cared for Tony
each day. He would not want the attention, but we thank you for
it.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Mattatall –
Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro, where Tony’s
family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, October, 27,
2021. Funeral service will be held 1 p.m., Thursday, October 28, 2021,
at First United Church, 711 Prince Street, Truro, Reverend Valerie
Kingsbury officiating. (Please note that proof of double
vaccination and photo identification will be requested prior to entry
to the funeral home for visitation and at the church for the
celebration of life service and masks must be worn at all times; thank
you for your co-operation and understanding.)
Webcasting of the funeral service will be available beginning at 12:55
p.m., Thursday, October 28, 2021, and will remain on this site for a
period of time thereafter. Private interment in West Branch Cemetery,
North River.
If desired, memorial gifts may be made to the West Branch
Cemetery (c/o Becky Bell), North River United Church, Victorian Order
of Nurses, or Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation. Private messages of
condolence may be sent to the family by viewing Tony’s
obituary online and selecting « Send A Condolence » at:
www.mattatallvarnerfh.com
1965 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Anthony William Powell Tony Bell 1965 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Truro, Province: Nova Scotia