Ann Bell

Ann Bell, age 85, a long-time resident of Hobbs and teacher at Jefferson Elementary, died on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 at United Regional Health Care Center in Wichita Falls, Texas, after a brief struggle with heart disease. Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at 10:00 AM with Reverend Darren Skinner officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday the 2nd from 1:00-7:00 PM. The family will greet visitors from 5-7 PM at Griffin Funeral Home.
Mrs. Bell was born Jan. 4, 1930, on her family's farm in Hickman County, Tenn. to the late Amnah Brown Pennington and Annie Arsenal Rosson Pennington. She was the third-youngest of ten children. Farm life, church attendance and community activities defined her young life. She was a cheerleader, high school basketball player and beauty contest winner, serving as Queen of the annual Mule Day festival in Columbia, Tenn.
She attended Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Tenn. and then Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn., where she would meet the love of her life. She married Frank Wayne Bell of Decherd, Tenn. on Oct. 13, 1950. After Mr. Bell returned from serving overseas during the Korean War, the couple moved to Hobbs in 1956 where both would become school teachers.
Beginning in 1974, Mrs. Bell taught second grade for two years and then kindergarten for the next 19 years at Jefferson Elementary. She had a great passion for children, teaching thousands to read during her career. She held a bachelor's degree from College of the Southwest and a master's degree from Eastern New Mexico University.
Mrs. Bell was an active member of First United Methodist Church and St. Paul's United Methodist Church, especially in women's and missions activities. Art, quilting, word games and murder mysteries were among her favorite interests. She also volunteered frequently at schools and churches.
She is survived by three sons and three grandchildren: Steve Bell and wife Martha, of Arlington, Tex.; Don Bell, wife Darlene, and son Johnathon of Wichita Falls, Tex., and Ken Bell and daughters Jayelyn and Camryn, of Dallas, Texas. She also leaves behind close family in Tennessee: sister Martha Pennington Gidcomb of Hendersonville, Tenn., sister Carolyn Pennington Gardner of Calhoun, Ga., and sister-in-law Sally Sowell Pennington of Hendersonville, Tenn.

Visitation

Service

Cemetery