Stewart Bell's sons vow to carry on Bell's Seed Store legacy
A beloved gardener and local business owner who spent 40 years leading one of Fayetteville's oldest locally owned businesses has died. Stewart Bell, third-generation owner of Bell’s Seed Store at 230 E. Russell St. downtown, died Oct. 20 after suffering a brain aneurysm, his family said. He was 64. His death came as a shock to family, longtime employees and loyal customers. But those closest to him say they won't let his legacy fade. He chose to help others, just because he could Stewart Bell was a man who always went out of his way for other people, said his wife of nearly 40 years, and he would always do so in a way that made it clear he wasn’t after any personal gain. He simply wanted to show that he was thinking about others before himself, Gwen Bell said. “He knows I like sunflowers and roses,” Gwen Bell said, “And he would just show up sometimes with sunflowers or roses or an orchid, just because he could.” Stewart Bell’s only cares in the world were his business, his family and his Lord, she added. In addition to helping others with their own gardens and yards, Gwen Bell said, her
