Obituary of Anna Bell Atwell

Anna Bell Atwell, 96, of Olean, formerly of Gaines, PA, passed away on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at The Pines of Machias in Machias, NY. Born in Flint, Michigan on May 28, 1924, Anna Bell was the daughter of George J. and Seneth Ann (Bailey) Chatfield. Raised in Flint, she attended McKinley High School there. On September 1, 1941, Anna Bell married Merle E. Atwell. He preceded her in death on September 7, 1991. Anna Bell was a homemaker but she and Merle also operated Atwell’s Antiques in Gaines, PA for nearly 20 years. She was very artistic and enjoyed creating ceramic pieces and even had her own kiln. She loved flowers and worked hard cultivating and nurturing her floral gardens every year. Anna Bell took great pride in her Native American roots. She was of Chippewa decent and had been a tribe member of the Saginaw Chippewa tribe. Anna Bell is survived by her daughter and son in law, Sue M. and John Payne of Arcade, NY, her grandchildren, Denise Belle Isle, Sandra Outman, Melissa Dobosz, Christina Sherwood and Gregory Payne, her daughter in law, Joyce Atwell of Westfield, her great grandchildren, Ashley, Tyler, Jessica, Gabriell, Carmen, Emily, Bethany Belle Isles, Bruce Belle Isles and Hailey Outman, 3 great great grandchildren, her brother in law, Bruce (Hildegard) Atwell of Owego, NY and many nieces and nephews. Besides her husband Merle, Anna Bell was predeceased by her son, Ford Atwell in 2006, her granddaughter, Angela Schade, her grandson, David Wynn Atwell, her great grandson, Tony Payne, her brother, Charles Chatfield and her sister, Margaret Bowsher. Funeral services were held on Saturday, February 6 at 11 am at the H.P. Smith & Son Funeral Home, 1607 Main St. Woodhull, NY. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Austinburg, PA. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. www.alz.org