Obituaries

Everett Skeeter Kell

Photo of Everett Skeeter Kell
Everett Lee "Skeeter" Kell, age 85, passed away Thursday, May 28, 2015. He was born October 11, 1929 in Swifton, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Alma Kell; and two brothers, George Kell and Frank Kell. Skeeter is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sue Kell; sons, Roger Kell and wife, Debbie of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Jerry Kell and wife Kimmie, of Dallas, Texas; daughters, Becky Bussey and husband, Don of Conway, Arkansas and Karla Gawlikowski and husband Bob of Houston, Texas. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and his uncle, Wilson Kell and wife, Betty Sue of Marianna. Skeeter graduated from Arkansas State College (Arkansas State University) in Jonesboro, Arkansas in 1952. He played professional baseball through from 1949 to 1954, and in the off season, he would coach and teach in Grubbs, Arkansas. He retired from baseball in 1954 and opened Skeeter Kell Sporting Goods in Kennett, Missouri in 1955. He moved to Pine Bluff and started working as a sales representative for L.G. Balfour Graduation Products and opened Kell Athletic Goods in 1964. Skeeter and Sue moved to Conway, Arkansas in 1994, and he retired from Balfour in 2000. They moved to Newport in September, 2014. Skeeter was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Conway. Skeeter will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Everyone who met him loved him, and he will be missed so much. In the words of a precious friend of ours "on May 28th, Skeeter Kell took his last at bat on the game of life. His lifetime batting average was about 900, which means he was among the best that ever lived. His is now in Heaven's Hall of Fame and the Angels are cheering as he starts his first game on God's team. He was a great one." IIn lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, or a charity of your choice. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Saturday at Swifton United Methodist Church with interment in Swifton Cemetery. Friends may visit at the church Saturday, 9:15 a.m. until service time. Arrangements: Jackson's Newport Funeral Home. www.jacksonsfh.com.

Published May 30, 2015

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