Keeble Bell

Memorial services for Keeble Hearld Bell, 59, of Cookeville will be held Saturday, February 4 at 1 p.m. in the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home with Patsy Cobb, Jackie Swallows and Connie Dalton officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday 12 noon until service time at the funeral home. Mrs. Bell died Sunday, January 29, 2012 at her home following an extended illness. She was born September 2, 1952 to the late Louis and Joyce Vaughn Hearld in Cookeville, TN where she remained a lifelong resident. Mrs. Bell graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a bachelors and masters degree in early childhood education. Her first two years of teaching were spent in White and Jackson Counties. The remaining 28 years of her 30 year career were spent at Northeast Elementary School as a first grade teacher. Teaching brought her much joy, and she was most beloved by her students and colleagues. While at Northeast, she was voted 1987 teacher of the year and named in Who"�s Who Among American Teachers in 2002. She held memberships in the NEA, TEA, PCEA, and Alpha Delta Kappa. In recent years she belonged to the Retired Teachers Association, and was a volunteer at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Keeble was married for more than 16 years to LeBron Bell. Together they traveled the world over. Most memorable were their trips to the countries of western Europe and Egypt. In the United States they enjoyed visiting Alaska, the desert Southwest, San Francisco, Niagara Falls, Hawaii, Washington D.C. and New York City. They especially loved the adventures they had while driving the Alaska-Canada Highway, historic Route 66, and the Pacific Coast Highway. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Jimmy Hearld. She is survived by her husband, LeBron, Bell, her stepdaughter, Betsy Smith and husband Rory of Fort Payne, AL and stepson, Roy Bell and wife Marcia of Mobile, AL; her grandchildren, Bryan Smith of Huntsville, AL; Greg Smith of Fort Payne, AL; Holly Bell and Ryan Bell both of Mobile, AL; her sisters, Gale Swallows and husband Jackie of Mt. Juliet; Donneita Smith and Kayla Rager both of Cookeville and many special nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 753A Humble Dr., Cookeville, TN or Special Olympics TN Area 9, TTU Box 5043, Cookeville, TN 38505.