Michelle Bell Murphy
Michelle Bell Murphy, 59, of Cookeville, TN, formerly of Lynchburg, VA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, surrounded by her loving family at Signature HealthCare in Algood, TN.
She was born November 14, 1966, in Lynchburg, the daughter of the late Rebecca Fogle Bell Bowling and the late Michael Owen Bell. She was raised by her mother and Norman B. Bowling.
Michelle grew up in Lynchburg and was a member of Fairview Christian Church.
For over 30 years, Michelle worked at a dental office in Lynchburg, where she became a familiar face to generations of patients and a steady presence to the people she worked alongside.
Michelle loved music, animals, people, and she loved clothes. She had a genuine eye for style and a talent for pulling an outfit together, and anyone who knew her knew she never showed up anywhere less than put together. She was the kind of person who could strike up a conversation with anyone and leave them feeling like they'd known her for years. She never missed Little House on the Prairie or Chrisley Knows Best, and she'd happily watch a favorite episode again as if she hadn't seen it a dozen times.
Above all, Michelle loved her daughters, Mallory and Natalie. She bragged on them to anyone who would listen and plenty of people who hadn't asked, and she was genuinely proud of the women they became. She was still new to the lives of Mallory's three sons, Remington, Crewe, and Gunnar, and the family holds close the Thanksgiving they all spent together in 2025 — the day she got to hold her grandsons and love on them, and see for herself how beautiful they are.
For the last seven years, Michelle made her home in Cookeville with her sister, Lisa, and Lisa's husband, Roger, alongside her niece and nephew, Sydney and Dylan. Their care for her over those years was constant and tireless, and made Michelle feel safe and cared for.
In addition to her parents, Michelle was preceded in death by her grandparents, Melvin L. and Rachel M. Fogle, James "Cliff" and Sarah "Pretty" Bell, and Buford and Virginia Bowling; and by two uncles, Danny W. Fogle and Michael S. Fogle.
She is survived by her daughters, Mallory M. Grills and husband, Matt M. Grills, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and their sons, Remington Michael Grills, Crewe Maddox Grills, and Gunnar Lee Grills; and Natalie N. Murphy and fiancé, Will Francoise, of Richmond, VA; her sister, Lisa B. Moore and husband, Roger D. Moore Jr., and her niece and nephew, Sydney Moore and Dylan Moore, all of Cookeville, TN; her brother, Shawn C. Bowling and wife, Candace J. Warner, of Nashville, TN; and her former in-laws, Roger and Ruth Murphy.
A service celebrating her life will be conducted at 1:00 pm Saturday, August 15, 2026 at Fairview Christian Church. Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Lynchburg Humane Society, or the charity of your choice.
