Donna Ollene Bell

Donna Ollene Bell (née Blackwell), 84, of Rankin, Texas passed away on Monday 9 August 2021 in Big Lake, TX. She was born on 10 November 1936 in Ranger, Texas. Donna attended Ranger High School and graduated from Crane High School in 1956 and was an honor graduate of Ranger College. She married Cody Mood Bell, Jr. on 18 July 1958.

Donna was a life-long member of the Church of Christ, a member of the Beta Sigma Phi International sorority, the Texas State Historical Association, and the West Texas Historical Association. She served the community of Rankin and Upton County as a 4-H Volunteer and Leader, co-chairing the Upton County Pecan Show, serving on the Rankin Museum Board, the Upton County Historical Society, and the Rankin Cemetery Association, and helped curate the Rankin Museum.

Donna was predeceased by her father, John Earl Blackwell, Sr.; brother, John Earl Blackwell, Jr.; mother, Bertha Leola Blackwell (née McGlothin); brother, JT Blackwell; sister, Luella Frances Weaver (née Blackwell); and special granddaughter, Kylie Dawn Reid.

Donna is survived by her husband of 63 years, Cody Mood Bell, Jr. of Rankin; son, Cody Mood Bell, III and wife Julia of Palmer, TX; son, John Wylie Bell and wife Celeste of Plano, TX; daughter, Kristin Elizabeth Reid (née Bell) and husband Denson of Rankin; grandchildren: Mary Celeste Buckmeier (née Bell) and husband Andrew of Plano; Allison Dawn Reid of Rankin; Kevin Wayne Reid of Rankin; and special granddaughter Shawna Deann Meyer (née Reid) and husband Chais of Kearney, NE; great-grandchildren Georgina Shea Meyer and Isla June Meyer of Kearney; brother, Walter Lee Blackwell and wife Candace of Carrizo Springs, TX; and sister, Vinetta “Sissy” Estelle Miller (née Blackwell) and husband Richard of Gainesville, TX.

A memorial service celebrating Donna’s life will be held on Saturday 21 August at 10:00 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church of Rankin, 809 Halff ST, Rankin, TX. Additionally, the memorial service will be streamed via Facebook Live.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Donna’s name to the Upton County 4-H, the Upton County Historical Society, the Reagan County Care Center Activity Fund, or the charity of your choice.