Obituary of Susan Cheri Bell

      Susan Cheri Bell (Stoddard),77, passed away on Oct 18,2022 at home in Shingle Springs, CA, with her family by her side.
      Susan was born on July 13, 1945 to Leanore and Melvin Stoddard in Billings, MT. After her father died when she was just a baby, her mother moved the family to Sacramento. She was raised by her mother, a hard working school teacher and sister Gloris Blackburn, who also became a teacher and a professional opera singer. Susan’s love and talent for singing began as a very young girl, when she would often entertain unsuspecting park goers by donning her mother’s fancy hat, standing up on picnic tables and impersonating Zsa Zsa Gabor with a child- endearing rendition of “Where is Your Heart?” from Moulin Rouge. Her mother used to say she was constantly trying to keep young Susan from daredevil walks along the top of their very high and narrow fence. She would also sometimes go along with her older sister on dates...providing the quality supervision that only a little sister can.
      Susan graduated from Sacramento High School and CSUS. She was very active in the community theater scene in the 70’s, for which her beautiful soprano voice and dancing could be seen and heard in Dave McDonald’s Best of Broadway and Elisa Sherrie stage productions. She moved to Santa Fe, NM with her husband James Bell in 1985, where he was a forensic scientist for the State Police Dept. Susan loved Shakespeare and went on to become an inspiring and well-loved English and Drama teacher at De Vargas Junior High School in Santa Fe, NM, where she also produced and directed an annual play promoting awareness of difficult social issues kids may struggle with. She also taught ESL (English as a Second Language) at the Santa Fe Indian School. While in Santa Fe, she and her family enjoyed country living and their love of animals with horses, cats and dogs. They could also be heard exploring their beautiful desert landscape on home-built dune buggies...on which, Susan was always a very enthusiastic, trusting and brave passenger!
      She and her husband moved back to California in 2018 to the Sleepy Hollow community in Shingle Springs.
      Susan was preceded in death by her brother Edward Stoddard. She is survived by her husband of 45 years James Bell, daughters Kathryn Skinner and Cheri Bell and sister Gloris Blackburn. She is also survived by her nephew David Blackburn.
      On Nov. 1st there will be a Graveside Service for family and friends at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery at 11:30, officiated by Bishop Adam Jones from the Church of Latter-day Saints. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to an animal rescue group close to Susan’s heart; PAWS in East Quincy, CA or Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue in Sutter County.