Norway – James “Red” H. Bell Jr., 67, of South Paris, died peacefully at Stephens Memorial Hospital on Sunday, Jan. 6, with his family by his side.

He was born in Augusta, the son of James H. Bell Sr. and Ada Campbell Bell. He was educated in Augusta and a graduate of Cony High School in 1959.

He went on to graduate from the University of Maine in Orono, majoring in engineering.

While serving in the U.S. Navy, he was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Sea Robin off the coast of Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis and was honorably discharged after four years.

In 1964, he started work as a laborer for Bridge Construction Corp., currently known as Bridgecorp, a division of Pike Industries, and was president at the time of his death.

As an avid stock car racing fan, he was co-owner of B&B Racing with his good friend, Dick Bahre. Together they entered a car in several races at Daytona International Speedway including the Daytona 500. They also sold tires at Oxford Plains Speedway for many years, until Dick moved South, and Red continued on with the help of a top-notch crew.

Red belonged to several civic organizations including the Grand Royal Arch Masons 43, Bethlehem Masonic Lodge 35 of Augusta and the Kora Temple Shrine in Lewiston, as well as business organizations, MBTA, ABC and AGC.

He was a member of and served in several capacities at Christ Episcopal Church in Norway.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; and children, Russell Clement Jr. of Skowhegan, Sandra Clement Burton also of Skowhegan, Reginald and his wife, Kathryn Clement, of Anson and Ronald and his wife, Barbie-Jo Clement, of Monmouth. He was also survived by grandchildren, Molly, Cody, Jesse, Mason, Casey, Mackenzie and Libby. Also sister, Ann and Lionel “Nellie” Delaware and their children, Lionel Jr., Kelly and Penny of Lemoore, Calif.