Jimmy G. Bell

Jimmy G. Bell of Van Buren died at home on December 30, 2014. He was born in Mulberry, on September 17, 1948 to Gerald C. Bell and Mary Chastain Bell. A 1966 graduate of Van Buren High School, he continued his education at Westark Community College and Arkansas Tech University. In 1975, he founded Jimmy Bell Real Estate Company and guided it to become a very successful real estate sales, land development, leasing, and management company. Through his expertise he was instrumental in providing Van Buren with attractive and modern residential and commercial developments. Bell was a past director of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce, and served as president of the Van Buren Boys & Girls Club board of directors. He was a member of the University of Arkansas of Fort Smith Foundation Board, the Van Buren Education Foundation Board, the Summit Medical Center board, and a director of Citizens Bank & Trust Company. He was awarded the Sertoma Club Service to Mankind Award and also the Sam Walton Business Leader Award. In 1999, he received the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce Iverson Riggs Memorial Citizen of the Year Award. An active member and Deacon of First Baptist Church Van Buren, he served as chairman of both the Building and Finance committees. He was preceded in death by a son, Cody Blaine Bell; his parents; and a brother, Gary Bell. He is survived by his wife, Sherri; son, J. Kevin Bell and wife Edie; son Dr. Chris Bell and wife Christy; and grandchildren, Christopher, Blaine, Cortney, Jay, Bryan, and Kylie Bell, all of Van Buren. Funeral service will be at First Baptist Church Worship Center, under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home, at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 3, 2015. Visitation will follow the service at the First Baptist Chapel with burial to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren. Pallbearers will be Kent Blochberger, Dr. Byrl Criswell, Paul Gant, Tom Moore, Joe Sirmon, and Jim Williamson. Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Autry, Greg Bontrager, Bobby Brown, N.D. Edwards, Wally Hays, Rick Kibler, Stan Kopfmann, Jimmy Lansdell, Rich Looper, Mike O'Bryan, Earl Robinson, Mike Stanek, Bill Thomas, Alan Wear, and J R Young. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 1121 E. Main St, Van Buren, Ark. 72956 or Cody Bell Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Citizens Bank and Trust Co., PO Box 469, Van Buren, Ark., 72957 or Van Buren Education Foundation, PO Box 6803, Van Buren, Ark. 72956.