Steve Vernon Bell Sr. (84), a longtime resident of Sikeston & Dexter, MO. passed away peacefully surrounded by family and his caregiver, Marilynn Slocum on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at his residence in Dexter.
Born February 10, 1931 in Formosa, AR he was the oldest of seven children born to the late Doy Walton and Bernice (Bowman) Bell. He was the grandson of the late Thomas Newton and Delona Iona (Owens) Bell and Joseph E. and Myrtle Jane (Bryant) Bowman.
On January 29, 1949 in Piggott, AR he married the love of his life, Jewell Virginia Stephens, who preceded him in death October 18, 2013.
In the 1950's, Steve started as a sharecropper and was a restaurant owner. In the early 1960's, he worked as an appliance, TV and radio repairman. He later owned and operated Steve's Electronics in Sikeston, MO. By hard work and determination on May 2, 1963, he acquired his first cable television franchise in Ellington, MO. After implementing this system, he began pioneering cable television into Southeast Missouri, Northeast Arkansas, and Northwest Tennessee for rural communities as Delta Video Cable Systems. Steve along with his wife, Jewell, worked tirelessly to develop and improve cable television for the Tri-State area for the next 25 years. During his many years of working with cable systems, he served on the Board of Directors for The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and was inducted into the Cable Television Hall of Fame in 1993. The SCTE Hall of Fame comprises of SCTE members who, over the course of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the professional development, ideals and goals of the Society and the cable telecommunications industry.
After retirement, Steve went back to his roots and passion of farming purchasing farmland in Stoddard and Scott County, Missouri. Steve found great joy in taking his family and friends out for visits on the farm. When not at the farm, Steve and Jewell traveled extensively around the world and were active members in the Missouri Delta Unit Airstream Club.
Steve and Jewell always put their family first looking for ways to bring their family together. From the construction of a family lake house, to full family holidays and even a family trip to Disney World, their most prized possessions were their children and grandchildren. Steve found great joy in telling the great grandchildren about the monkeys in the backyard and slipping them dollar bills. And for all that knew him, knew that he loved telling stories. You could be certain that 50% of every story was indeed true, but you just didn’t know which 50%. What a jokester! He loved life and lived it to the fullest.
He left a lasting legacy full of wonderful memories and abundant love that will carry on for generations.
Steve leaves to cherish his memory: his son Steve Vernon Bell II and wife Janet of Dexter; three daughters, Janet Lynn Heuring of Dexter, Linda Gaye Cooper and husband Barry of Dexter, and Margaret Jo Ellen Bell of Van Buren. Four brothers; Joe Tom (Doris) Bell of Douglas, GA, Charles Dale (Carolyn) Bell of Dexter, MO, James Chester (Jeanette) Bell of Sikeston, MO and Kenneth Ray (Debbie) Bell of Bloomfield, MO. One sister; Dorothy Lavern Barnes of Portage, MI. Seven grandchildren, Eric Heuring and wife Emily, Lori Bishop and husband Kevin, Brandi Juden and husband Andrew, Brandon Church and wife Cheyenne, Kristina Bell, Julianna Bell and fiancée Cody Branch and Dylan Acevedo; seven great-grandchildren; Anna, Lydia, Luke, Charles Avery, Brittany, Aiden and Jacey; one great-great grandchild, Caiden; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one grandson; Christopher Gerald Heuring; one brother, George Ellis Bell; one brother-in-law, Melvin Barnes; and one sister-in-law; Ethel Bell.
Visitation will take place on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from noon until 2 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at 2 p.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Matt Johnson and Rev. Joshua Carpenter officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Eric Heuring, Brandon Church, Kevin Bishop, Dylan Acevedo, Andrew Juden and Cody Branch.
Born February 10, 1931 in Formosa, AR he was the oldest of seven children born to the late Doy Walton and Bernice (Bowman) Bell. He was the grandson of the late Thomas Newton and Delona Iona (Owens) Bell and Joseph E. and Myrtle Jane (Bryant) Bowman.
On January 29, 1949 in Piggott, AR he married the love of his life, Jewell Virginia Stephens, who preceded him in death October 18, 2013.
In the 1950's, Steve started as a sharecropper and was a restaurant owner. In the early 1960's, he worked as an appliance, TV and radio repairman. He later owned and operated Steve's Electronics in Sikeston, MO. By hard work and determination on May 2, 1963, he acquired his first cable television franchise in Ellington, MO. After implementing this system, he began pioneering cable television into Southeast Missouri, Northeast Arkansas, and Northwest Tennessee for rural communities as Delta Video Cable Systems. Steve along with his wife, Jewell, worked tirelessly to develop and improve cable television for the Tri-State area for the next 25 years. During his many years of working with cable systems, he served on the Board of Directors for The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and was inducted into the Cable Television Hall of Fame in 1993. The SCTE Hall of Fame comprises of SCTE members who, over the course of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the professional development, ideals and goals of the Society and the cable telecommunications industry.
After retirement, Steve went back to his roots and passion of farming purchasing farmland in Stoddard and Scott County, Missouri. Steve found great joy in taking his family and friends out for visits on the farm. When not at the farm, Steve and Jewell traveled extensively around the world and were active members in the Missouri Delta Unit Airstream Club.
Steve and Jewell always put their family first looking for ways to bring their family together. From the construction of a family lake house, to full family holidays and even a family trip to Disney World, their most prized possessions were their children and grandchildren. Steve found great joy in telling the great grandchildren about the monkeys in the backyard and slipping them dollar bills. And for all that knew him, knew that he loved telling stories. You could be certain that 50% of every story was indeed true, but you just didn’t know which 50%. What a jokester! He loved life and lived it to the fullest.
He left a lasting legacy full of wonderful memories and abundant love that will carry on for generations.
Steve leaves to cherish his memory: his son Steve Vernon Bell II and wife Janet of Dexter; three daughters, Janet Lynn Heuring of Dexter, Linda Gaye Cooper and husband Barry of Dexter, and Margaret Jo Ellen Bell of Van Buren. Four brothers; Joe Tom (Doris) Bell of Douglas, GA, Charles Dale (Carolyn) Bell of Dexter, MO, James Chester (Jeanette) Bell of Sikeston, MO and Kenneth Ray (Debbie) Bell of Bloomfield, MO. One sister; Dorothy Lavern Barnes of Portage, MI. Seven grandchildren, Eric Heuring and wife Emily, Lori Bishop and husband Kevin, Brandi Juden and husband Andrew, Brandon Church and wife Cheyenne, Kristina Bell, Julianna Bell and fiancée Cody Branch and Dylan Acevedo; seven great-grandchildren; Anna, Lydia, Luke, Charles Avery, Brittany, Aiden and Jacey; one great-great grandchild, Caiden; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one grandson; Christopher Gerald Heuring; one brother, George Ellis Bell; one brother-in-law, Melvin Barnes; and one sister-in-law; Ethel Bell.
Visitation will take place on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from noon until 2 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at 2 p.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Matt Johnson and Rev. Joshua Carpenter officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Eric Heuring, Brandon Church, Kevin Bishop, Dylan Acevedo, Andrew Juden and Cody Branch.
Steve Vernon Bell Sr. (84), a longtime resident of Sikeston & Dexter, MO. passed away peacefully surrounded by family and his caregiver, Marilynn Slocum on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at his residence in Dexter.
Born February 10, 1931 in Formosa, AR he was the oldest of seven children born to the late Doy Walton and Bernice (Bowman) Bell. He was the grandson of the late Thomas Newton and Delona Iona (Owens) Bell and Joseph E. and Myrtle Jane (Bryant) Bowman.
On January 29, 1949 in Piggott, AR he married the love of his life, Jewell Virginia Stephens, who preceded him in death October 18, 2013.
In the 1950's, Steve started as a sharecropper and was a restaurant owner. In the early 1960's, he worked as an appliance, TV and radio repairman. He later owned and operated Steve's Electronics in Sikeston, MO. By hard work and determination on May 2, 1963, he acquired his first cable television franchise in Ellington, MO. After implementing this system, he began pioneering cable television into Southeast Missouri, Northeast Arkansas, and Northwest Tennessee for rural communities as Delta Video Cable Systems. Steve along with his wife, Jewell, worked tirelessly to develop and improve cable television for the Tri-State area for the next 25 years. During his many years of working with cable systems, he served on the Board of Directors for The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and was inducted into the Cable Television Hall of Fame in 1993. The SCTE Hall of Fame comprises of SCTE members who, over the course of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the professional development, ideals and goals of the Society and the cable telecommunications industry.
After retirement, Steve went back to his roots and passion of farming purchasing farmland in Stoddard and Scott County, Missouri. Steve found great joy in taking his family and friends out for visits on the farm. When not at the farm, Steve and Jewell traveled extensively around the world and were active members in the Missouri Delta Unit Airstream Club.
Steve and Jewell always put their family first looking for ways to bring their family together. From the construction of a family lake house, to full family holidays and even a family trip to Disney World, their most prized possessions were their children and grandchildren. Steve found great joy in telling the great grandchildren about the monkeys in the backyard and slipping them dollar bills. And for all that knew him, knew that he loved telling stories. You could be certain that 50% of every story was indeed true, but you just didn’t know which 50%. What a jokester! He loved life and lived it to the fullest.
He left a lasting legacy full of wonderful memories and abundant love that will carry on for generations.
Steve leaves to cherish his memory: his son Steve Vernon Bell II and wife Janet of Dexter; three daughters, Janet Lynn Heuring of Dexter, Linda Gaye Cooper and husband Barry of Dexter, and Margaret Jo Ellen Bell of Van Buren. Four brothers; Joe Tom (Doris) Bell of Douglas, GA, Charles Dale (Carolyn) Bell of Dexter, MO, James Chester (Jeanette) Bell of Sikeston, MO and Kenneth Ray (Debbie) Bell of Bloomfield, MO. One sister; Dorothy Lavern Barnes of Portage, MI. Seven grandchildren, Eric Heuring and wife Emily, Lori Bishop and husband Kevin, Brandi Juden and husband Andrew, Brandon Church and wife Cheyenne, Kristina Bell, Julianna Bell and fiancée Cody Branch and Dylan Acevedo; seven great-grandchildren; Anna, Lydia, Luke, Charles Avery, Brittany, Aiden and Jacey; one great-great grandchild, Caiden; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one grandson; Christopher Gerald Heuring; one brother, George Ellis Bell; one brother-in-law, Melvin Barnes; and one sister-in-law; Ethel Bell.
Visitation will take place on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from noon until 2 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at 2 p.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Matt Johnson and Rev. Joshua Carpenter officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Eric Heuring, Brandon Church, Kevin Bishop, Dylan Acevedo, Andrew Juden and Cody Branch.
Born February 10, 1931 in Formosa, AR he was the oldest of seven children born to the late Doy Walton and Bernice (Bowman) Bell. He was the grandson of the late Thomas Newton and Delona Iona (Owens) Bell and Joseph E. and Myrtle Jane (Bryant) Bowman.
On January 29, 1949 in Piggott, AR he married the love of his life, Jewell Virginia Stephens, who preceded him in death October 18, 2013.
In the 1950's, Steve started as a sharecropper and was a restaurant owner. In the early 1960's, he worked as an appliance, TV and radio repairman. He later owned and operated Steve's Electronics in Sikeston, MO. By hard work and determination on May 2, 1963, he acquired his first cable television franchise in Ellington, MO. After implementing this system, he began pioneering cable television into Southeast Missouri, Northeast Arkansas, and Northwest Tennessee for rural communities as Delta Video Cable Systems. Steve along with his wife, Jewell, worked tirelessly to develop and improve cable television for the Tri-State area for the next 25 years. During his many years of working with cable systems, he served on the Board of Directors for The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and was inducted into the Cable Television Hall of Fame in 1993. The SCTE Hall of Fame comprises of SCTE members who, over the course of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the professional development, ideals and goals of the Society and the cable telecommunications industry.
After retirement, Steve went back to his roots and passion of farming purchasing farmland in Stoddard and Scott County, Missouri. Steve found great joy in taking his family and friends out for visits on the farm. When not at the farm, Steve and Jewell traveled extensively around the world and were active members in the Missouri Delta Unit Airstream Club.
Steve and Jewell always put their family first looking for ways to bring their family together. From the construction of a family lake house, to full family holidays and even a family trip to Disney World, their most prized possessions were their children and grandchildren. Steve found great joy in telling the great grandchildren about the monkeys in the backyard and slipping them dollar bills. And for all that knew him, knew that he loved telling stories. You could be certain that 50% of every story was indeed true, but you just didn’t know which 50%. What a jokester! He loved life and lived it to the fullest.
He left a lasting legacy full of wonderful memories and abundant love that will carry on for generations.
Steve leaves to cherish his memory: his son Steve Vernon Bell II and wife Janet of Dexter; three daughters, Janet Lynn Heuring of Dexter, Linda Gaye Cooper and husband Barry of Dexter, and Margaret Jo Ellen Bell of Van Buren. Four brothers; Joe Tom (Doris) Bell of Douglas, GA, Charles Dale (Carolyn) Bell of Dexter, MO, James Chester (Jeanette) Bell of Sikeston, MO and Kenneth Ray (Debbie) Bell of Bloomfield, MO. One sister; Dorothy Lavern Barnes of Portage, MI. Seven grandchildren, Eric Heuring and wife Emily, Lori Bishop and husband Kevin, Brandi Juden and husband Andrew, Brandon Church and wife Cheyenne, Kristina Bell, Julianna Bell and fiancée Cody Branch and Dylan Acevedo; seven great-grandchildren; Anna, Lydia, Luke, Charles Avery, Brittany, Aiden and Jacey; one great-great grandchild, Caiden; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one grandson; Christopher Gerald Heuring; one brother, George Ellis Bell; one brother-in-law, Melvin Barnes; and one sister-in-law; Ethel Bell.
Visitation will take place on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from noon until 2 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at 2 p.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Matt Johnson and Rev. Joshua Carpenter officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Eric Heuring, Brandon Church, Kevin Bishop, Dylan Acevedo, Andrew Juden and Cody Branch.
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