Jimmy Dean Bell, 62, carpenter, a cattle farmer, volunteer fireman, beekeeper, husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully at his home, Jan. 20, 2021, after a bravely fought battle with esophageal cancer.
Jim loved his family, friends, and his farm.
Please remember him with a smile when you load your best dog to check the cows, smell fresh sawn wood or fresh cut hay. When you see honey bees and taste their honey, or see the sunset from your back porch, remember him. When you measure twice and cut once and when your actions speak instead of words, think of him.
Jimmy was born to A.L. Bell and Dolores (Martz) Bell on June 14, 1958, at Gray’s Hospital in Batesville, Arkansas.
He went to school at Strawberry School District and Gateway VoTech in building trades; he married Regina Nadine (Bratcher) Bell on July 25, 1980, in Strawberry, Lawrence County, Arkansas.
In 2020 he and Regina Bell celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. He worked as a General Contractor and owned his own business, Bell Construction, for many years.
Survivors include his wife, Regina Nadine (Bratcher) Bell of Saffell; his mother, Dolores (Martz) Bell of Saffell; his mother-in-law, Janice Nadine (Durham) Bratcher of Strawberry; sisters, Renee (Bell) Hoover of Austin, Texas, and Michelle (Bell) Park and husband, Frank Park of Memphis, Tennessee; brother-in-law, Bobby Bratcher, and wife, Denise of Smithville, Arkansas; nieces and nephews, Michael Hoover, Kara Land, Elyssa Hoover, Sydney Hoover, Logan Park, Cameron Wenzel, Jase Hoover, Ellie Land, Zakary Bratcher, Dakota (Bratcher) Mangrum and husband, Justin. Also, aunt, Linda Diane (Martz) Sinele; uncle, William Gary Martz; aunt, Deanna (Durham) Wrenn and husband Stan of Strawberry.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his only child, a son, Justin D. Bell; his father, A.L. Bell; father-in-law, Charles Bratcher; and grandparents, Bert Manfern Bell, Rosetta (Mitchell) Bell, Owen Rozzell ”Snooks” Martz, and Dorothy Verneal (Slayden) Martz.
The family of Jimmy Bell wishes to extend our sincere thanks to many friends and family, Dr. Khan and the Oncology Nurses at WRMC, Dr. Jason Muesse and the Cardio-Thoracic Team, as well as Dr. David Bumpass at UAMS.
Pallbearers are Tom Carley, Brad Maxwell, Kenny Morse, Frank Park, Michael Hoover, Lynn Martz, Shawn Sinele, and Brian Bell. Honorary pallbearers will be Zak Bratcher, Logan Park, Joel Ward, Chris Sinele, and members of the Saffell Volunteer Fire Department.
Graveside services will begin at 2:00 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at Union Cemetery in Dowdy under the direction of Roller-Crouch Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made in his honor to Children’s Home Inc. of Paragould, 5515 Walcott Rd, Paragould, AR 72450 or Saffell Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 5, Saffell, AR 72572.
We are complying with the Arkansas Department of Health guidelines. All attendees must provide and wear their own masks and social distancing will be observed.
