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Fulfilling a son's last wish at the deepest place on earth

Spencer and Cathy Bell
Spencer and Cathy Bell
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Cathy Bell reads a tribute to her late son Spencer while her husband Steve Gotter, right, offers support as they fly above the Pacific Ocean and the Marianas Trench below before releasing Spencer’s ashes into the deep blue water.
Cathy Bell reads a tribute to her late son Spencer while her husband Steve Gotter, right, offers support as they fly above the Pacific Ocean and the Marianas Trench below before releasing Spencer’s ashes into the deep blue water.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Cathy Bell gets emotional while perched at the edge of the small cargo-drop door in the side of the airplane with the urn containing her son Spencer’s ashes in her hands moments before letting go and releasing the urn into the waters of the Pacific Ocean below for it to sink down into the deepest place on Earth, the Marianas Trench.
Cathy Bell gets emotional while perched at the edge of the small cargo-drop door in the side of the airplane with the urn containing her son Spencer’s ashes in her hands moments before letting go and releasing the urn into the waters of the Pacific Ocean below for it to sink down into the deepest place on Earth, the Marianas Trench.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Cathy Bell gets emotional releases the urn containing her son Spencer’s ashes into the air and down into the waters of the Pacific Ocean below for it to sinks down into the deepest place on Earth, the Marianas Trench.
Cathy Bell gets emotional releases the urn containing her son Spencer’s ashes into the air and down into the waters of the Pacific Ocean below for it to sinks down into the deepest place on Earth, the Marianas Trench.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Green dye from the dye pack attached to the urn containing Spencer Bell’s ashes floats upon the deep blue waters, just off the wing of the airplane, of the Pacific Ocean, marking the spot where it landed before sinking down into the Marianas Trench below.
Green dye from the dye pack attached to the urn containing Spencer Bell’s ashes floats upon the deep blue waters, just off the wing of the airplane, of the Pacific Ocean, marking the spot where it landed before sinking down into the Marianas Trench below.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Spencer Bell
Spencer Bell
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Spencer and Brady in earlier years with their father Bill.
Spencer and Brady in earlier years with their father Bill.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Spencer Bell and his younger brother Brady.
Spencer Bell and his younger brother Brady.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Cathy Bell and her husband Steve Gotter, right, meet Amos Collins pilot and manager of Pacific Mission Aviation who was able to assure Cathy she could actually fulfill Spencer's last wish.
Cathy Bell and her husband Steve Gotter, right, meet Amos Collins pilot and manager of Pacific Mission Aviation who was able to assure Cathy she could actually fulfill Spencer's last wish.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
The vast magnificence of the ocean took Cathy Bell’s breath away. She described the experience as "magnificent, majestic, overpowering, and sublime.“
The vast magnificence of the ocean took Cathy Bell’s breath away. She described the experience as "magnificent, majestic, overpowering, and sublime.“
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Cathy Bell, center, had to obtain permission from the Chief of the Council of Tamol, right, for permission to carry our her mission.
Cathy Bell, center, had to obtain permission from the Chief of the Council of Tamol, right, for permission to carry our her mission.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Cathy Bell and pilot Amos Collins map out their flight path to the Marianas Trench, deciding on the best longitude and latitude coordinates.
Cathy Bell and pilot Amos Collins map out their flight path to the Marianas Trench, deciding on the best longitude and latitude coordinates.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Cathy Bell's cousin, Scott Taylor, left, and Cathy.
Cathy Bell's cousin, Scott Taylor, left, and Cathy.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Tahzay Jones, a coastal ecologist for the park service
Tahzay Jones, a coastal ecologist for the park service
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Cathy Bell poses with one of the big discs which were used as stone money on the Island of Yap. Made of limestone originally carved from quarries, these stones were brought from Palau on rafts towed by sailboats. The larger the stone, the more value.
Cathy Bell poses with one of the big discs which were used as stone money on the Island of Yap. Made of limestone originally carved from quarries, these stones were brought from Palau on rafts towed by sailboats. The larger the stone, the more value.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Pilot Amos Collins instructs Steve Gotter on how to remove and replace the 'false door' during mid-flight.
Pilot Amos Collins instructs Steve Gotter on how to remove and replace the 'false door' during mid-flight.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
The small door in the rear of the plane opens by turning latches and pulling the panel towards the inside. For Spencer's ashes drop, the plane descended to 200 feet elevation. The opening is most often used in PMA's delivery of medicine and emergency supplies drops on remote islands that have no runway.
The small door in the rear of the plane opens by turning latches and pulling the panel towards the inside. For Spencer's ashes drop, the plane descended to 200 feet elevation. The opening is most often used in PMA's delivery of medicine and emergency supplies drops on remote islands that have no runway.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
The photo that popped up in my phone as we were nearing the trench.
The photo that popped up in my phone as we were nearing the trench.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
The flight plan Fibonacci.
The flight plan Fibonacci.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
This is Cathy Bell, at the home of a friend in Bloomfield Twp., March 11, 2024. Bell’s son Spencer died at age 20 and asked that he be laid to rest in the Marianas Trench, the deepest point of the ocean on earth.
This is Cathy Bell, at the home of a friend in Bloomfield Twp., March 11, 2024. Bell’s son Spencer died at age 20 and asked that he be laid to rest in the Marianas Trench, the deepest point of the ocean on earth.
David Guralnick, The Detroit News
Spencer Bell singing with his band.
Spencer Bell singing with his band.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Spencer Bell at Interlochen.
Spencer Bell at Interlochen.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Spencer Bell at Interlochen among other photos.
Spencer Bell at Interlochen among other photos.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Spencer and Brady in earlier years
Spencer and Brady in earlier years
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Spencer Bell's urn.
Spencer Bell's urn.
Courtesy Of Family
The night before the ashes drop, Cathy placed Spencer's guitar pic and his, treasured from childhood, shark's tooth in the urn.
The night before the ashes drop, Cathy placed Spencer's guitar pic and his, treasured from childhood, shark's tooth in the urn.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
On the flight from Palau to Yap, Spencer's urn, packed in the suitcase, was safely strapped in his own seat.
On the flight from Palau to Yap, Spencer's urn, packed in the suitcase, was safely strapped in his own seat.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Dollar bills are taped all over the walls in a small restaurant/bar in Yap. Touched by Spencer's story, Vanika, the waitress, promised to rub the dollar every so often and "give it some love."
Dollar bills are taped all over the walls in a small restaurant/bar in Yap. Touched by Spencer's story, Vanika, the waitress, promised to rub the dollar every so often and "give it some love."
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
As gifts, Yapese women made this native burial wreath to accompany Spencer's urn in the ocean and two flower leis, a symbol of love and friendship, for Cathy and her husband Steve Gotter to wear on the plane.
As gifts, Yapese women made this native burial wreath to accompany Spencer's urn in the ocean and two flower leis, a symbol of love and friendship, for Cathy and her husband Steve Gotter to wear on the plane.
Courtesy Of Cathy Bell
Very early on, Spencer Bell, seen here with an acoustic guitar, loved musical instruments of all kinds.
Very early on, Spencer Bell, seen here with an acoustic guitar, loved musical instruments of all kinds.
Courtesy Of Spencer Bell's Family
Spencer Bell performs as the lead singer and acoustic guitar player for his first band “Sheer Funk and Misery” shown here playing at the Woodward Dream Cruise in 2002.
Spencer Bell performs as the lead singer and acoustic guitar player for his first band “Sheer Funk and Misery” shown here playing at the Woodward Dream Cruise in 2002.
Courtesy Of Spencer Bell's Family
Spencer Bell records vocals in the studio.
Spencer Bell records vocals in the studio.
Courtesy Of Spencer Bell's Family
This is a self-portrait by Spencer Bell.
This is a self-portrait by Spencer Bell.
Courtesy Of Spencer Bell's Family
Close to a year after his death, the first benefit concert featuring the Howling Diablos drew a sold-out crowd at Royal Oak Music Theatre.
Close to a year after his death, the first benefit concert featuring the Howling Diablos drew a sold-out crowd at Royal Oak Music Theatre.
Courtesy Of Spencer Bell's Family
Close to a year after his death, the Spencer Bell Memorial benefit concert featuring the Howling Diablos drew a sold-out crowd at Royal Oak Music Theatre.
Close to a year after his death, the Spencer Bell Memorial benefit concert featuring the Howling Diablos drew a sold-out crowd at Royal Oak Music Theatre.
Courtesy Of Spencer Bell's Family