Eric Nathan Bell

Eric Nathan Bell was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to William and Gloria Bell. He grew up in the Ann Arbor area and graduated from Pioneer High School. It was a lovely time and place to grow up, weekends spent camping, riding bikes, snowshoeing and skiing in the winter, and endless weekends surrounded by family- so many opportunities for fun and adventure. Eric always had a “job” through the early years, establishing the hard work ethics of his father, which continued through his life.

William and Gloria, originally from Michigan, followed William’s dreams to live in the West and continue building residential homes in the Treasure Valley of Idaho. William lived that dream until he passed in 2005. In his youth, Eric spent countless hours with his dad learning and honing the trade of home building and it became his passion which led him to a very successful career and partnership with his father in Country Homes.

Eric had a wide variety of interests. He was an avid football fan- many weekends were spent watching all the games, pro and college, but there was no question of who his favorite was. He never wavered in his love for the University of Michigan Wolverines (Go Blue) and he passed this love on to his sons, Colton and Connor. Eric enjoyed 4-wheeling, snowmobiling, being in the mountains and a good campfire.

Eric had a deep passion for music that started at a very young age. He spent hours listening to every genre. This love led to hundreds of concerts- everything from Motley Crue, to Waylon Jennings, to Kenny Chesney. He was a die-hard fan, and he shared that love with his family. He was well known for sharing his latest Spotify find with anyone he thought would listen, as music was the true heartbeat of his life.

Travel was a huge part of Eric’s life. His love for the ocean kept him coming back time after time. Countless cruises, weeks spent at the beach stretching from Imperial Beach in California, Rock Away Beach in Oregon, all the way to the Caribbean Islands. Nothing brought him peace like the sound of the ocean and the feel of the sand on his feet.

His biggest source of pride was his sons. Colton and Conner shared so many adventures and interests with their dad, everything from monster truck shows, concerts, football and all things sports, traveling to fishing and any day spent by the water….but they also share his dedication to family and pride in a hard day’s work.

Eric will truly be missed by all his family and friends.

“As Eric now knows and we, too, will one day know, Heaven is a wonderful place.”

Eric is survived by his sons, Colton and Conner Bell, mother, Gloria Bell, sister, Melissa ( Kelly) Sanders, niece Madison Sanders and nephew Taylor ( Ashlee) Wood  and their children Bentley and Branch, and extended family Eric and Christine Swanson, Paige and Aaron Bogdanoff, Sage Swanson;  and is preceded in death by his father, William Bell.

A service and celebration of life will be held at Bowman Funeral Parlor in Boise, Idaho, on Saturday, September 13, at 11:00. Eric will be laid to rest at Dry Creek Cemetery following the service. Flowers are welcome or memorial donations in Eric’s name can be made at Idaho Humane Society.