Obituary of Jerry C. Bell

Jerry C. Bell, 76, of Kerrville, TX, died at his home on March 5, 2010, after a 2 year battle with lung cancer. He was born November 12, 1933 in Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, the second son of Homer Earnest and Ruby Louise (Cox) Bell. Jerry left school before graduating and in 1951, married Bebe June Parrott at the Harris Avenue Baptist Church, Bastrop, LA, the same church he had been baptized in 1947. In 1952, he joined the US Air Force and earned his GED, going on to be an instructor for five years at Goodfellow AFB in Radio Traffic Analysis and Mobile Interception. He served in both Korea and Vietnam, and his family accompanied him to the Island of Crete (1959 - 1962), Turkey (1969 - 1971) and state-side was based out of Goodfellow AFB. He retired in 1974 as a Senior Master Sergeant with 22 1/2 years. He was part of the Intelligence Community. After his retirement, Jerry worked in San Angelo, TX, as a serviceman for Bob Humphrey at Concho Valley Refrigeration, Ethicon, and Angelo State University, as supervisor for Maintenance on Refrigeration, Heating, and Air Conditioning Equipment. In 1979, he and Bebe moved to Beaver Lake in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where he built their own home. He worked for Carroll-Boone Water System; was a licensed Real Estate Broker for Lakeland Realty and had volunteered for the Grassy Knob Volunteer Fire Department. Bebe died of cancer and in 1990, he married Edith Sikes and they moved to Rogers, Arkansas, Powell, Missouri, and retired to Kerrville, Texas in September 2003. He is predeceased by his wife of 38 years, Bebe; and his parents. Those left to honor and cherish his memory are his wife of 19 years, Edith (Easton) Bell of Kerrville, TX; two daughters, Sara Elizabeth "Beth" Fearing of Hunt, TX, and Diana Kay "Katie" Sewell and husband Steve of Ingram, TX; five grandchildren, Sgt. Chris Picken and wife Catherine of Hunt, TX, Theresa and husband Lt. Col. David Stephens of Alexandria, VA, Misty Cade and husband Josh of Uhland, TX, Rachel Olvera of San Antonio, TX, and Bebe Fuentes of San Angelo, TX; seven great grandchildren; three step-children; eight step grandchildren; three step great grandchildren; a brother, Glenn Bell and his wife Imogene of Birmingham, AL; and nieces and nephews. Visitation for family and friends will be held at Kerrville Funeral Home on Monday, March 8 from 6-8 p.m. and at Golden Funeral Home, Bastrop, LA, on Wednesday, March 10, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. followed by a graveside service at Memorial Park Cemetery, Bastrop, LA at 1:30 p.m. The family suggests that donations in his name be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or The Salvation Army, Jerry and Edi's favorite charities.