Henry B. Bell, Sr.

Henry Brandt Bell, Sr. went to meet his Lord and Savior on January 29 ^th , 2022, at 6:00am with his family at his side.

Henry was born in Lead Hill, Arkansas on September 10 ^th , 1935. He was the youngest of four children to John Thomas Bell and Anna Estelle Manley Bell. He had three older sisters, Abbey Smith, Duna Lynn, and Anna M. Foresee. After their Arkansas farm was flooded by Lake Bull Shoals Dam, the family moved to Springfield, Missouri for 9 months, where Henry attended almost a year of high school and turned 16. They then moved to Chetopa, Kansas once the family gained possession of land and a home. Henry found Jesus when he was 17 and spread the Word every chance he got. He graduated from Cherokee County Community High School in Columbus, Kansas in 1953.

Henry met his wife, Shirley Ann Wilson Bell, through his friend, and Shirley's brother, Rodger Wilson. If Rodger could get Henry a date with his sister, then Rodger could drive Henry's new car to Springfield, MO. The rest is history, and Henry and Shirley were married on August 24 ^th , 1958, at Chetopa, Kansas Assembly of God. Henry built most of their family home with his own hands with the help of his parents, new bride, his best man, Don Willis, and family friend, Earnest Ridgeway. Henry and Shirley lived in the home for all 63+ years of marriage.

Throughout his life, Henry coached and played sports, including coaching his sons' baseball teams. Henry was a Gideon for many years, spreading the word of the Gospel at churches across the county and attending local and state conferences. Henry and Shirley were also part of the Farm Bureau for many years and served on the board. Henry was very active in his church, Center Christian Church in Columbus, KS. When you spoke to Henry, first and foremost, he told you about his Jesus.

Henry and Shirley had four children: Henry Brandt "Sonny" Bell, Jr., Craig Stephen Bell, Tammy Elaine Bell Raue, and Sherry Laine Bell Conner. They were blessed with 15 grandchildren: Traci Bell Peterson (husband, Kirk Peterson), Brandt Bell (wife, Tara Southwick Bell), Jessica Bell Midgett (husband, Joey Midgett), Keith Bell (wife, Lindsay Poznich Bell), Kevin Bell (wife, Jessica Bauer Bell), Rachel Bell Cravens, Brittany Bell, Tyler Neal (fiancé, Nallely Gonzalez), Skylar Neal, Shantel Guinn Scott (husband, Alex Scott), Sharla Guinn, Shayla Guinn (fiancé, Austin Moore), Mark Guinn, Marek Guinn, and Shalaina Conner. From the grandchildren have come 20 great-grandchildren.

Henry is preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna Bell, sisters Abbey Smith and Anna Foresee, son Henry "Sonny" Bell, Jr., daughter Tammy Bell Raue, and nephews Scott Beshears and Dr. Stephen Foresee, DMD.

Funeral Services for Henry Bell, Sr. will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at the Center Christian Church.  Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery east of Chetopa.  The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m, Monday, January 31, 2022 at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to Gideon's International.  These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS  67336.