Obituary of Dr. Benny Bell

Dr. Benny J. Bell, 79, of Doniphan, Missouri, passed away Sunday, August 16, 2015, at his residence in rural Ripley County. Dr. Bell, son of Doyle Benjamin and Jenny (Newton) Bell, was born February 11, 1936, in Rison, Arkansas, and was raised in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas, area. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, Dr. Bell returned to Arkansas, attending college at Arkansas State University where he obtained BS degrees in Biology and Chemistry. He continued his education at the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry in Memphis. Dr. Bell graduated with a DDS degree in September 1964, serving as president of his class. In October 1964, Dr. Bell passed the Missouri State Dental Board and received his license to practice. He was immediately hired by the Missouri Department of Health and traveled the rural areas of southern Missouri providing much needed dental care to children in kindergarten, first and second grade for two years. Dr. Bell opened his private practice at Doniphan in 1966, eventually expanding the practice to his own building where it presently stands in downtown Doniphan. Dr. Bell served on the Doniphan R-1 school board for six years, serving four of those years as president. He was active with the Lions Club, past Lion of the Year and recipient of the prestigious Melvin Jones Award. He was instrumental in bringing the National Canoe Race to Current River in the summer of 1983. Dr. Bell served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and was a longtime member of the VFW. He traveled extensively internationally and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He and his wife also owned and operated MAEBE Ranch Quarter Horses, specializing in breeding, raising and showing world class palomino and buckskin quarter horses. On January 18, 1991, he was married to Mary Ann Ensz in Van Buren, Missouri, and she survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Beverly (and Charles) Weathers of Doniphan and Belinda Bell of Owensboro, Kentucky; and one granddaughter, Carli Weathers. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Jeanette Malone and one brother, William Bell, Sr. A visitation will be held Thursday evening, August 20, 2015, from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. Memorials may be made to ASPCA or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.