JEFFREY DAVID BELL, 43, of Ft. Towson, OK, formerly of Paris, passed from this life after a mercifully brief battle with cancer on Wednesday November 26, 2008 at Dubuis Hospital. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday November 30, 2008 in the chapel of Starrett Funeral Home with Rev. Mark Sanders and Rev. Brad Crosswhite officiating. Interment will follow in Providence Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Jeff was born February 24, 1965 in Irving, a son of Billy Wayne and Cynthia Bell, Sr. He was a graduate of McCullough High School in The Woodlands, Texas, then attended Paris Junior College. He was an electrical and security systems contractor until his illness began. A member of First Baptist Church of Paris, he was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to fish and spend time with his pets Buck, Bear and Bevo, who were like his children. Jeff’s special sense of humor made life enjoyable for everyone who knew him. Does our life make a difference? Jeff’s did. His joy and laughter touched many people and precious memories were made. His body was strong and blessed by God. His battle was short and victorious and the pain was manageable. We would like our friends to know the honor that was ours to have Jeff for forty-three years, and will now live with patience until we see him again.

He is survived by his son, Aaron Bell, of Denton; his parents, Cynthia and Bill Bell, of Ft. Towson, OK; two sisters, Jennifer Thompson and husband Mike, of Paris and Jennalee Kerr and husband Mark, of Sherman; a brother, Billy Wayne (Bubba) Bell, Jr., of Paris; a step-daughter, Tabatha Ibbara, of Paris; his granddaughter Angelina Ibbara; two aunts, Kenna Pharr, of Paris and Joan Rittinger and husband Charles, of Whiting, NJ; nieces Staci and Patrick Shackelford, of Sherman, Chelsea Craig, of Sherman, Madison Thompson, of Sherman; nephew Senior Airman Jordan Thompson and wife Leslie, of Glendale, AZ and Tyler Kerr, of Sherman; his former wife and special friend Salena Bell; special friends Alex and Kim Kozel; many great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins and other friends.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Mabel and Kenneth Bell; maternal grandparents Mildred and Fred Buechner; a step-grandfather, Carl Nash.

Named to serve as pallbearers are Alex Kozel, Lanny Holmes, Brad Eatherly, Shannon Archer, Thomas Sanders, James Hooten, Jai Parker, Justin Johnson, Bric Steed and Marty Rosson.