Judith Bell Rains, 67, passed away on January 31, 2010, in Cleveland, Ohio, after battling colon cancer. Born May 16, 1942 to Evelyn (Hartzog) and Albert Bell in Dallas, Tex., she attended Highland Park High School and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Her career included freelance writing for the Arkansas Gazette and The Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas before joining the newspaper staff of the Arkansas Democrat in Little Rock. She reported on topics ranging from the Arkansas prison system to New York fashion week; wrote a regular beauty and lifestyle column; and interviewed personalities from athlete Sidney Moncrief to author Madeleine L’Engle. Judy received several writing awards from the Arkansas Press Women’s Association.
She returned to her Texas roots in the early 1990s, where she worked in fashion sales and merchandising. A lifelong Episcopalian, she was most recently a member of Church of the Holy Cross in Dallas.
Judy was married to Craig Rains from 1963-1986. She is survived by three children: Brent Rains (Laurie) of Arlington, VA., Michael Rains (Monika Koniecka) of New York City, and Meg Rains (Jeffrey Babbitt) of Cleveland, Ohio; along with granddaughter Alexandra Rains of Arlington, VA.; sisters Pamela Hamby of Little Rock, AK., and Penelope Magnin of Savannah, GA.; and several nieces and cousins. Her parents and a sister, Lucinda Adams, preceded her in death.
Memorials may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org) or Hospice of the Western Reserve (www.hospicewr.org). Family correspondence may be sent to 2635 N. Moreland Blvd., Ste. #301, Cleveland, Ohio 44120.
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HPHS Class of 1960, Dallas, Texas
On behalf of the Class of 1960 at Highland Park, we wish to extend our sincere sympathy to Judy’s family. She was a well-loved member of our class.
Joe Sylvan
I am so very sorry to learn of Judy’s death. She was my first serious girlfriend (10th grade) and I will always have great memories of Judy, her family and many friends. Though we had lost touch many years ago, i am deeply saddened to hear of her death.My deepest sympathy to all of her family and friends.
Jack C Irwin
I am very sad to learn of Judy’s passing. The opportunities to visit at the Christmas party each year gave us the opportunity to keep up with Judy and we all were looking forward to our upcoming 50th reunion. Judy was much loved and will be missed by all who knew her well.
Betty Ragle LaRue
My heartfelt sympathy to all of you for the loss of your precious mother, sister and my special friend. We were all looking forward to being together in the fall for our 50th high school reunion, never dreaming Judy would not be with us. Please know what a wonderful friend Judy was to me, and I will cherish all the fun and warm memories of days past. I’m sure Hector, her Guardian Angel, is with her now. Please feel free to contact me. With love and deepest sympathy, Betty Ragle LaRue
Sandy McDonough
My sympathies to the family. I was friends with Judy in High School and saw her a few times more recently. She was always a joy to be with.
Sandy
Tom Waggoner
The family of Judy Bell Rains has my sincerest and deepest sympathy for her passing. Although I did not know Judy personally, her sister, Cindy, who also passed away at an early age, was a dear and special person in my life during our years as students at Highland Park High School. I have connected with Judy’s other sisters, Penny Bell Magnin and Pam Bell Hamby, and have also expressed my sympathy for the loss of Cindy and Judy in addition to their parents, Albert and Evelyn Bell. The entire Bell family will always be in my thoughts and heart.