James E. "Pappy" Bell, 82, died April 10 at his home in Great Bend. He was born May 18, 1928, at Peabody, the son of Jesse M. and Anna (Swift) Bell. He married Grace Ann Smith on June 15, 1952, at Great Bend. He worked for Petro-log and Tomlinson Oil Company until his retirement in 1989. He had been a Great Bend resident for 60 years, coming from eastern Kansas.

Mr. Bell was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was a member of King United Methodist Church, of Great Bend.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; one son, Jimmy Bell of Hoisington; four daughters, Karen Birzer of Cody, Wyo., Janis West of Wichita, Rhonda Spencer of Gering, Neb., and Jamie Boor of Hoisington; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Other survivors include two sisters, Naydene Hefner of Austin, Texas, and Betty Lewis of Kerrville, Texas. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Lisa Jo Bell; three brothers, Howard Bell, David Bell, and Raymond Bell; and one sister, Grace Bell Petre.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home, with the Rev. John Grummon and Pastor Scott Tempero officiating. Interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Great Bend. Visitation will be from 1-9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, in care of the funeral home.