73 replies to this topic

[Geoff Smedley]

I wish to convey my thoughts and blessings to Ray Bell for the loss of his wife this week. Ray is a stalwart of TNF and at this time I'm sure we all feel for him at this time of great sadness. Our thoughts are with you Ray!

[Barry Boor]

I knew this was imminent but that makes this no less hard to hear.

 

My thoughts are with Ray. I know what he is going through.

Edited by Barry Boor, 07 December 2013 - 11:12.

[Giraffe]

Very sad news, my thoughts today are with this legendary TNFer on the other side of the world.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

   My sincere condolences to Ray, his family and friends.

[Bjorn Kjer]

Very sorry to hear Ray,best from Bjørn.

[Tim Murray]

I know we're all thinking of you, Ray, at this very sad time. Sincere condolences.

[David McKinney]

Indeed. My condolences

[Macca]

Deeply saddened to hear this. My thoughts are with you.

[John Ginger]

Very sorry to hear this, my condolences to you and your family Ray

[Ralf Pickel]

Very sorry to hear that - my condolences.

[B Squared]

Very sad news, condolences Ray. I'm glad we were able to meet in Watkins Glen.

[Felix Muelas]

Dear Ray,

Please accept my deepest condolences. 

 

Un abrazo,

[arttidesco]

Sorry to hear your news Ray, condolences to you, your family and friends.

[Stefan Schmidt]

Dear Ray, I am very sorry to hear about your sad loss - please accept my deepest sympathy

[LittleChris]

Very sorry to hear this news. My sincerest condolences Ray.

 

Chris

[RStock]

My heartfelt condolences to Ray.

[GMACKIE]

Sad news indeed. Best wishes to you and yours, Ray.

[Mike Summers]

Mr. Bell, prayers from Nancy and I.

 

Mike Summers

[Coral]

I'm so sorry to hear this Ray, my thoughts are with you.

[RogerFrench]

Oh my goodness, so sorry to read that. Condolences.

[David Birchall]

So sorry to hear this Ray,  condolences from us here in Canada.

[Ray Bell]

Geoff, I do thank you for thinking of Janet and myself this way...

 

And to the others who've posted here, your kind thoughts are well received. Most of you never had a chance to meet Janet because she had no interest whatever in motor sport or cars generally, but she did once go to Geoff's home with me on our 2005 trip to Tasmania and Brian has recalled that she was included in my visit to Watkins Glen just a year before she got ill.

 

To belatedly introduce you to the lady who has occupied the last quarter-century of my life, therefore, I have this picture. It was taken at the top of Victoria Pass in the Blue Mountains on our trip from Silverdale to Orange when I introduced her to my parents. What you might not see, but is still obvious to me to this day, is the nervousness in her smile because she wasn't totally confident about sitting on the wall of the lookout so close to the sheer drop to the sandstone and trees below:

 

 

Brian has mentioned the visit to Watkins Glen, and I can say honestly that Janet truly enjoyed our two days there. Afterwards, when asked to recall her favourite places seen, Watkins Glen would be on the list each time. The hospitality of Mike Argetsinger, Brian, the IMRRC and even the town itself was memorable... not that she didn't have to keep up with her chores:

 

 

I am certainly going to miss this little girl. We were planning to return to the USA and go on to Europe next year, but the planning was so sadly interrupted and I will only be taking my memories in a very heavy heart as I do another lap of the US. Europe will have to come another time, but it will include more motor racing connection than would have been possible with her along. At, of course, the very great cost of not being able to share nor to enjoy seeing the things she wanted to see.

 

One of the great little sidelights to that last trip was our visit to Jerry Entin's Michigan home. Jerry and Carmen made us so welcome and they wanted us to stay longer.

 

 

Jerry's dog also benefited from our visit:

 

 

But we had places to go and things to see, all a part of becoming the greatest adventure in my girl's life. So sad, so unfortunate, she was just 58 years and 48 days old at her passing, I was holding her frail little hand as her life ebbed away. Her final weeks and days were lived with such courage that I fear I could not match it, but I did all I could to be with her and support her right to the end.

 

Janet believed solidly, as do I, in the bible promise of a resurrection to everlasting life on an earth restored to the beauty and tranquility God created in the Garden of Eden. These thoughts were the major focus of those last days, but they do little to ease the pain of her loss.

 

She leaves four sons, two of them have each given her two grandchildren. The other one suffering the kind of pain I am enduring is her sister, but it's clear from the numbers of visitors she had in hospital, the number of phone calls I get and the expressions people use when talking about her that she was extremely well-loved by a very broad circle of people, many of whom recount times Janet has helped them out when they've been down or in trouble.

 

I now long for the day I meet up with her again. But for now I have to live on and hold fast to her memory.
 

Once again, thanks for all the thoughts and kind expressions.

Edited by Ray Bell, 07 December 2013 - 21:16.

[Lee Nicolle]

Very sad. Ray, my sincere condolences to you and your sons and their families on your loss. At 58 she was far too young.

[ken devine]

My sincere condolances Ray.

[Dick Willis]

My condolences too, Ray

[LittleChris]

What you might not see, but is still obvious to me to this day, is the nervousness in her smile because she wasn't totally confident about sitting on the wall of the lookout so close to the sheer drop to the sandstone and trees below:

 

 

Ray, that might be because you've made her sit on what  looks like a thin piece of granite at the top of a cliff ! Can't say I'd have been too happy !!

Just remember the enjoyment of the times &, in particular, the travels you shared together .

 

Chris

Edited by LittleChris, 08 December 2013 - 01:08.

[david5]

Sorry to hear this news Ray. May she Rest In Peace.

[JacnGille]

Terrible news.

[Lola5000]

Sorry to hear of your loss Ray.

[DanTra2858]

RIP

[GreenMachine]

My sympathies Ray, to you and your family.

[Ian G]

Sad news.....

[Dale Harvey]

My condolences as well.

 

Dale.

[Jerry Entin]

What a joy it was for my wife Carmen and I to host Ray and Janet on their visit to the States. Janet was such a fun loving and giving person and everyone who got to meet her really enjoyed doing so.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 08 December 2013 - 06:16.

[ensign14]

That's rough, Ray, I'm sorry. 

[Andrew Fellowes]

Beautiful eulogy, sincere condolences, Andrew

[eldougo]

So sorry to hear this  sad news Ray.May she Rest In Peace. 

[Repco22]

Very sad news. Ray, my deepest condolences.

[fil2.8]

Ray , although I don't know you personally ----I wish I did , I share your loss and my thoughts are with you at this sad time . My deepest condolences to you all at this time .

 

ex member Renauld Brasseur also sends his wishes and condolences .

 

Thanks also for your wonderful eulogy .

 

Phil

[Paul Hurdsfield]

My deepest sympathy to you Ray, I'm sad to hear of your loss, eventually the pain will ease, but it will never go away, just try and remember the good times.

Tomorrow we leave Bangkok en route to Sydney, and by thursday we will be in the Blue Mountains, I'll be thinking of you both then.

Just one thing, where's that wall? I might try and get the wife to sit on it!

[Catalina Park]

Just one thing, where's that wall? I might try and get the wife to sit on it!

Paul, in case Ray doesn't see this in time, this is the closest I can get with Google maps.
 

[Lotus11Register]

So sorry for you Ray.  Thanks for that beautiful remembrance. 

[Gary Davies]

Ray, I'm so very sorry. Look after yourself, mate. You have a lot of friends here.

[jonpollak]

Thoughts to you and yours Ray...

Jp

[jj2728]

So sorry for your loss Ray. Condolences.

John

[bill p]

Ray

 

You are in our thoughts and prayers

 

Bill & Sharon

[Tony Matthews]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss, Ray.

[Graham Gauld]

Ray

 

Losing such a soul-mate is like losing a large part of you. As you can see here you have plenty of friends to turn to for a chat when times are low.

 

Graham

[Claudio Navonne]

My sincere condolences to Ray, un abrazo from Argentina.

[RA Historian]

Very sorry to hear this, my condolences to you and your family Ray.  I am glad that we were able to meet at Watkins Glen last year. I remember that you two were taking a month's tour of the US and were enjoying it very much. Good times such as that are to be remembered and treasured.

Tom

Edited by RA Historian, 08 December 2013 - 16:58.