Memorial services for Rev. Herman W. Bell were held Tuesday, May 25, at 2 p.m. at the First
Baptist Church, McLean, Texas where he had served as pastor since 1971.
Graveside services were in the Spring Creek Cemetery at 4:30 p.m.
Rev. Bell died suddenly Saturday, May 22, 1976 in his home at McLean, Texas.
Rev. Aaron Hacker of Oklahoma City officiated at the services.
Herman Willis Bell was born near Granbury, Texas, March 12, 1918. His parents,
Willis and Martha Bell, moved to Delhi when he was three years old. He graduated
from Delhi High School in 1938, Oklahoma Baptist University with a BA Degree in 1950
and a Master of Divinity Degree at Golden Gate Seminary in Berkley, CA in 1964.
Rev. Bell has pastored churches for the past 30 years in Oklahoma, California and Texas.
He also was an elementary teacher for three years in California.
Early pastoral work was in Oklahoma six years at Ural Baptist Church, Pleasant View
Baptist Church and Temple Baptist at Shawnee.
When he moved to California in 1954 he stayed for 21 years pastoring the following
Baptist churches. First Baptist of Gustine, First Southern Baptist of Lodi, Trinity Baptist
of Modesto and Emmanuel Baptist of Vailejo . In 1974 he moved to McLean Texas
pastoring the First Baptist Church until his death.
Rev. Bell served in many capacities for the Southern Baptist Associations through his years.
The last two years he served on the Executive Board of the General Baptist Convention of Texas.
He married the former Mary Lee Cornelius of Delhi and the couple reared two daughters.
Survivors are his wife, Mary Lee of the home, two daughters: Marinita Lakey of Cheyenne
and LaDona Anderson of Stillwater; his mother, Martha Bell Robinson of Sayre, two brothers,
George Bell of Sayre and Leon Bell of Orangevale, CA, one sister, Mary K. Henke of Gault, CA
and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Willis Bell.
Cheyenne Star, June 3, 1976