REV. JOHN BELL

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- The Rev. John Samuel Bell, 81, of East Prairie died Monday, Sept. 18, 2000, at East Prairie Nursing Center.

He was born Oct. 1, 1918, in Mississippi County, son of Manuel and Octavia Grider Bell. He and Maggie Earlene Britt were married Nov. 9, 1939, at East Prairie.

Bell was a retired Assembly of God minister. He had lived in Mississippi County most of his life. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Charleston, Mo.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Richard Bell of East Prairie; a daughter, Nancy Poe of Boaz, Ky.; a brother, Paul Bell of LaCenter, Ky.; two sisters, Irene Allen of East Prairie, Alma Archie of Hickman, Ky.; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and a sister.

Friends may call at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie after 4 p.m. today.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with David Smith and Gerald Penn officiating. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery near Charleston.