07/03/2025
Silver Bell Motley, 87, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025, in Center. She was born on December 31, 1937, to Marley Steven Bell and Mildred Lookabaugh Bell in Ennis, Texas.
Visitation will be held at 10am on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Center, with the service to follow at noon. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park.
Silver Bell was raised in a home full of love, hard work, a strong sense of family, and lots of laughter. Her father Steve was a cattleman and trader with a sixth-grade education and a heart the size of Texas. Her mother Mildred was a gifted teacher, highly educated, a fabulous seamstress and largely the disciplinarian of the household. With her two sisters, Linda and Kathy, Silver grew up in Frankston, Texas, through her freshman year in high school, where she was a cheerleader and played tennis and basketball. Her family moved to Nacogdoches briefly then to Center at the beginning of her Junior year. Never a shy one, Silver recalls catching the eye of a handsome Sophomore, Luke Motley, on the first day of school. After going on a double date, each with other people, she knew Luke was going to ask her out. Sure enough, he asked to carry her home from church that Sunday, which began what would be a lifelong courtship.
Silver graduated in 1956 from Center High School and attended Stephen F. Austin State University, earning a marketing degree while also being chosen as the 1958 SFA Homecoming Queen and voted Miss SFA. Luke, in the meantime, attended Baylor University, with the two charting their own paths, until the day Silver received a job offer in another state. Luke’s mother, Martha, didn’t mince words in telling him he needed to get on the ball if he wanted to catch and marry Silver Bell. He asked, she said yes, and they married on June 5, 1959, and loved each other well for 66 years.
Silver and Luke made their home in Center, investing their lives in the community through banking, volunteerism, service organizations, First Baptist Church, and raising three children - son Luke IV, daughter Monica, and daughter Meredith. Although Silver filled many roles in her lifetime, her greatest joy was being a wife and mother. It wasn’t until all three kids were in college at Baylor University—at the same time—that Luke said, “Silver… I think it would be a good idea for you to start teaching.” This marked the beginning of a newfound personal passion for Silver in connecting with and caring deeply for her students. She enjoyed a 17-year teaching career at Center ISD, including being recognized as the 2003 Shelby County Teacher of the Year. Silver said, “On a good teaching day, I taught my students to learn 2 or 3 new things.” She held them to a very high standard balanced with consistent encouragement and praise. She believed “To teach once was to learn twice,” a lesson she shared with her own kids, which inspired her daughter, Meredith, to become a teacher. Meredith is now teaching at Center ISD and her students are children of her mom’s students. It never fails, when parents find out Meredith is Silver’s daughter, their gratitude for how she changed their life is overwhelming.
Silver Bell Motley was a gift of a person, a friend to everyone, with a competitive, witty spirit, sincere joy, class, and kindness. Beneath it all was her unwavering belief and full faith in the birth, death, and resurrection of her Savior, Christ Jesus, and the promise of eternal life. She not only understood but modeled the redemptive power of forgiveness, grace, and unconditional love, which she gave freely to her family and everyone who knew her.
She is survived by:
Beloved husband of 66 years, Luke Motley III
Son, Luke Motley IV and wife Rosalind of Sherman, Texas and family
Granddaughter, Marlee Wilson and husband Chase of Sherman, Texas
Great-Grandchild, Jeffrey Camden Wilson
Granddaughter, Jordan Motley of Austin, Texas
Granddaughter, Mary Kate Motley of Encinitas, California
Daughter: Monica Van Slate and husband Jon of Houston, Texas and family
Granddaughter, Sara Compton and husband Mitchell of Dallas, Texas
Great-Grandchild, William Jon Compton
Granddaughter, Emily Davis and husband David of Grapevine, Texas
Daughter: Meredith Morris and husband Brian of Center, Texas and family
Morgan Morris of Splendora, Texas
Jake Morris of Longview, Texas
Chosen daughter-in-law, Kelli Mathews of Center, Texas and family
Grandson, Collin Mathews and wife Madyson of Center, Texas
Great-Grandchild, Vaughn Miller Murray Mathews
Granddaughter, Taighen May and husband Trevor of Center, Texas
Sister, Linda Lane of Center, Texas and family
Niece, Aleshia Fife and husband Keith of Center, Texas
Great-niece, Allana Gallant
Great-nephew, Jackson Fife
Nephew, Mark Massey and wife Wendy of Kemah, Texas
Great-nephew, Harrison Massey
Great-nephew, Hunter Massey
Great-niece, Savannah Massey
Great-nephew, Colton Massey
Nieces/Nephews:
Debbie Armstrong and daughter LeAnn of Humble, Texas
Christie Pickens and husband Chris of Lumberton, Texas and family
Great-nephew, Austin Pickens
Great-niece, Cortney Stelly
Great-niece, Abby Hutto
Preceded in death by parents, Steven “Steve” and Mildred Bell; in-laws, Luke “Jack” and Martha Motley; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Charles and Kathy Noble; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jeanne and Leland Howard; nephew-in-law, Keith Armstrong; brother-in-Law, Wardlow Lane; niece, Noelle Noble; and chosen son, Murray Mathews.
Pallbearers are Jake Morris, Collin Mathews, Mark Massey, Mitchell Compton, David Davis, and Chase Wilson.
Caregivers: The family would like to extend their love and heartfelt gratitude to Mom’s caregivers: Ashley McCollister, Shant’e McCollister, Patsy Patton, Anastasia Barnes, and housekeeper, Delfina. You will never know the appreciation we have for you. Thank you for loving Mom and Dad as if they were your own. You became part of our family and journeyed through this storm with us. You’ve cried with us, rejoiced with us, worried with us, and laughed with us. Your presence was a consistent comfort in a process that nobody knew how to navigate. May God shower you with blessings every day! All our love!
In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Silver Bell Motley Roughrider Scholarship Fund, PO Box 152, Center, Texas 75935.
Silver’s Wishes:
She said, "Do NOT wear black. Dress Happy!!" Silver said, "Smile!!" and "May you always have Love to share, Health to spare, and Friends to care."
