Gerald W. Bell

Gerald W. “Jerry” Bell, 80, of Chicora, a well-known Chicora area resident and country western singer, went to be with the Lord Tuesday morning, August 15, 2017 shortly after his arrival at the emergency room at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Gerald was born in Petrolia on April 28, 1937, the son of the late Paul and Roberta Fair Bell.

Jerry had been employed at Witco Chemical Corp. in Petrolia.  He retired in 1999 following 42 years of service.

Jerry attended the Petrolia Presbyterian Church.  He was a member of the Chicora Moose and The Happy Hunters Club.  Jerry enjoyed hunting, fishing, and throwing horse shoes.  With the exception of his family, Jerry’s biggest love was playing country music.  He played country music for over 60 years with numerous bands and was well-known as “The Peanut Man”.  He is most noted for the time he spent playing and singing with Jesse James & The Country Boys.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Doris M. Hawk Bell, whom he married in 2001 at the Petrolia Presbyterian Church.  Also surviving is a daughter, Lisa D. Minto and her husband, Steve, of Chicora, a son, Mark W. Bell and his wife, Debbi, of Butler; two brothers, Jim Bell of Butler and John Bell of Chicora; two sisters, Polly (Bell) Brown and Rebecca Bell, both of Bruin; five grandchildren, Emily and Sarah Minto of Chicora and Kaitlyn, Tyler, and Brianna Bell of Butler; five step children and their families, Marian Conner, Joe Conner, Larry Hawk and his wife, Jennifer, Spring Neff and her husband, Paul, and Frank Hawk, as well as a number of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by his first wife of 33 years, Norita Snyder Bell, whom he married on January 8, 1966 and who died on September 26, 1999, a daughter, Linda A. Bell, who died on June 14, 1998, a brother, Thomas Bell, a brother-in-law, Dennis Brown, and a step son, Bradley D. Conner.

Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 1 – 3 and 6 – 9 p.m. Thursday.  A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday from the funeral home with the Rev. Richard Rowe, a retired Presbyterian pastor, officiating.  Interment will follow at Hemphill Cemetery, Chicora.   For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.

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