Reverend Frank Bell, 86, of Middleton, Tennessee, passed peacefully in his sleep November 2, 2020 at the Alamo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Alamo, Tennessee.
A native and lifelong resident of Middleton, he was born on March 9, 1934 to Basil and Eula Bell. He worked as a farmer and logger before joining J.P. Shelly & Sons, where he worked for more than 40 years.
Although Frank enjoyed many close friendships with co-workers, vendors, and customers at Shelly’s, his favorite “job” was serving as pastor to several local churches for more than 50 years. He served as pastor at Chapel Hill Baptist Church, New Hope (Wolf Pen) Baptist Church, Butler’s Chapel Baptist Church, and Essary Springs Baptist Church, then returned to Chapel Hill, where he served until his health forced his retirement. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he also preached at revival meetings in several states. As he reflected on his life, one of his most treasured memories was that he was able to officiate more than 200 funerals—and, from his perspective, offer grieving families hope and comfort in their time of need. His greatest love in life was his wife Frances, who was by his side working and serving others since they married as teenagers. His best day was any day with her.
In his scarce spare time between long hours at Shelly’s, Sunday and Wednesday sermons and church work, and many hospital and funeral home visitations to care for church members, Frank still found time to garden extensively, typically growing most of the family’s food. He also dabbled in livestock, owning pigs, mules, and goats at various points over his lifetime. Before his health declined, he enjoyed roadtrips to Texas to visit his sons and their families and taking in an occasional Texas Rangers baseball game. He also seized the opportunity to visit the Northwest, seeing firsthand the source of much of the lumber he sold at Shelly’s. A perfect night for Frank was dinner with Frances and his sons, grandchildren, or a few close friends at Catfish Cabin.
Frank is survived by Frances, his wife of 67 years, sons Gerald Bell (Alyce) of Fort Worth, Texas, and Barry Bell (Sabrina) of Dallas, Texas, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Raymond and Harold Bell, and sister Virginia Wheeler.
A native and lifelong resident of Middleton, he was born on March 9, 1934 to Basil and Eula Bell. He worked as a farmer and logger before joining J.P. Shelly & Sons, where he worked for more than 40 years.
Although Frank enjoyed many close friendships with co-workers, vendors, and customers at Shelly’s, his favorite “job” was serving as pastor to several local churches for more than 50 years. He served as pastor at Chapel Hill Baptist Church, New Hope (Wolf Pen) Baptist Church, Butler’s Chapel Baptist Church, and Essary Springs Baptist Church, then returned to Chapel Hill, where he served until his health forced his retirement. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he also preached at revival meetings in several states. As he reflected on his life, one of his most treasured memories was that he was able to officiate more than 200 funerals—and, from his perspective, offer grieving families hope and comfort in their time of need. His greatest love in life was his wife Frances, who was by his side working and serving others since they married as teenagers. His best day was any day with her.
In his scarce spare time between long hours at Shelly’s, Sunday and Wednesday sermons and church work, and many hospital and funeral home visitations to care for church members, Frank still found time to garden extensively, typically growing most of the family’s food. He also dabbled in livestock, owning pigs, mules, and goats at various points over his lifetime. Before his health declined, he enjoyed roadtrips to Texas to visit his sons and their families and taking in an occasional Texas Rangers baseball game. He also seized the opportunity to visit the Northwest, seeing firsthand the source of much of the lumber he sold at Shelly’s. A perfect night for Frank was dinner with Frances and his sons, grandchildren, or a few close friends at Catfish Cabin.
Frank is survived by Frances, his wife of 67 years, sons Gerald Bell (Alyce) of Fort Worth, Texas, and Barry Bell (Sabrina) of Dallas, Texas, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Raymond and Harold Bell, and sister Virginia Wheeler.
Reverend Frank Bell, 86, of Middleton, Tennessee, passed peacefully in his sleep November 2, 2020 at the Alamo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Alamo, Tennessee.
A native and lifelong resident of Middleton, he was born on March 9, 1934 to Basil and Eula Bell. He worked as a farmer and logger before joining J.P. Shelly & Sons, where he worked for more than 40 years.
Although Frank enjoyed many close friendships with co-workers, vendors, and customers at Shelly’s, his favorite “job” was serving as pastor to several local churches for more than 50 years. He served as pastor at Chapel Hill Baptist Church, New Hope (Wolf Pen) Baptist Church, Butler’s Chapel Baptist Church, and Essary Springs Baptist Church, then returned to Chapel Hill, where he served until his health forced his retirement. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he also preached at revival meetings in several states. As he reflected on his life, one of his most treasured memories was that he was able to officiate more than 200 funerals—and, from his perspective, offer grieving families hope and comfort in their time of need. His greatest love in life was his wife Frances, who was by his side working and serving others since they married as teenagers. His best day was any day with her.
In his scarce spare time between long hours at Shelly’s, Sunday and Wednesday sermons and church work, and many hospital and funeral home visitations to care for church members, Frank still found time to garden extensively, typically growing most of the family’s food. He also dabbled in livestock, owning pigs, mules, and goats at various points over his lifetime. Before his health declined, he enjoyed roadtrips to Texas to visit his sons and their families and taking in an occasional Texas Rangers baseball game. He also seized the opportunity to visit the Northwest, seeing firsthand the source of much of the lumber he sold at Shelly’s. A perfect night for Frank was dinner with Frances and his sons, grandchildren, or a few close friends at Catfish Cabin.
Frank is survived by Frances, his wife of 67 years, sons Gerald Bell (Alyce) of Fort Worth, Texas, and Barry Bell (Sabrina) of Dallas, Texas, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Raymond and Harold Bell, and sister Virginia Wheeler.
A native and lifelong resident of Middleton, he was born on March 9, 1934 to Basil and Eula Bell. He worked as a farmer and logger before joining J.P. Shelly & Sons, where he worked for more than 40 years.
Although Frank enjoyed many close friendships with co-workers, vendors, and customers at Shelly’s, his favorite “job” was serving as pastor to several local churches for more than 50 years. He served as pastor at Chapel Hill Baptist Church, New Hope (Wolf Pen) Baptist Church, Butler’s Chapel Baptist Church, and Essary Springs Baptist Church, then returned to Chapel Hill, where he served until his health forced his retirement. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he also preached at revival meetings in several states. As he reflected on his life, one of his most treasured memories was that he was able to officiate more than 200 funerals—and, from his perspective, offer grieving families hope and comfort in their time of need. His greatest love in life was his wife Frances, who was by his side working and serving others since they married as teenagers. His best day was any day with her.
In his scarce spare time between long hours at Shelly’s, Sunday and Wednesday sermons and church work, and many hospital and funeral home visitations to care for church members, Frank still found time to garden extensively, typically growing most of the family’s food. He also dabbled in livestock, owning pigs, mules, and goats at various points over his lifetime. Before his health declined, he enjoyed roadtrips to Texas to visit his sons and their families and taking in an occasional Texas Rangers baseball game. He also seized the opportunity to visit the Northwest, seeing firsthand the source of much of the lumber he sold at Shelly’s. A perfect night for Frank was dinner with Frances and his sons, grandchildren, or a few close friends at Catfish Cabin.
Frank is survived by Frances, his wife of 67 years, sons Gerald Bell (Alyce) of Fort Worth, Texas, and Barry Bell (Sabrina) of Dallas, Texas, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Raymond and Harold Bell, and sister Virginia Wheeler.
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