BAZINE — Sammy Lee Cell, 70, died Nov. 5 at Hays Medical Center. Born Nov. 28, 1943, in Waynoka, Okla., he was the son of Carl “Skeet” and Maxine (Cunningham) Cell. On Sept. 30, 1972, he married Melody Ray Shelton in Great Bend. A resident of Bazine since 1999, living in Salina from 1992 to 1999, and Great Bend from 1965 to 1992, he was a gauger for Plains Marketing and formerly served as a Great Bend Police Officer and Barton County Sheriff’s Officer. He loved John Wayne, racing, rattlesnake hunting, and all sports.
Mr. Cell was a United States Navy veteran, serving during the Vietnam Conflict. He was a member of the American Legion Post 392 in Bazine.
Survivors include his wife, Melody Ray Cell, of the home; three sons, Shane Lynn Cell and his wife Crystal of Hutchinson, Sammy Ray Cell and his wife Kristen, and Ryan Lee Cell and his wife Jenni, both of Salina; two daughters, Candy Long and her husband Duane of Tulsa, Okla., and Ciera Melody Cell of the home; three sisters, Beverly Brummel and her husband Lanny of Mena, Ark., Sara Carlson and her husband Dennis of Freedom, Okla., and Etta Browning of Wichita; four brothers, Lester Cell and his wife Gayle of Great Bend, Charlie Cell and his wife Karen of Fairview, Okla., David Cell and his wife Audrey of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Carl Cell and his wife Tammy of Nevada, Mo.; 21 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and mother-in-law, Joyce Shelton of Great Bend. He was preceded in death by one stepson, Buddy Carl Bence; one son, Sammy Lee Cell; one daughter, Sandy Cell; one infant sister; and one great-granddaughter, Shayla Cell.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10, at Bryant Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dick Ogle officiating. Burial will be at the Great Bend Cemetery, with military rites by the United States Navy Honor Guard. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m., on Sunday, at the funeral home. Memorials are requested to American Legion Post 392 in Bazine, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.
    
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home*
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS   67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 7, 2014