Evelyn Jean (Moore) Bell, 77, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Monday (October 8, 2012) at Texas Regional Medical Center in Sunnyvale, Texas.

Evelyn was born May 20, 1935, the daughter of Earl Ora and Ethel Roberta (McKee) Moore in rural Adair County. On February 18, 1955 in Kirksville, Missouri, Evelyn was united in marriage to Johnny Bell who preceded her in death on July 30, 2012.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and one son, Danny Edward Bell in January 2000.

Evelyn is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Randall Gene of Sheboygan, WI and Tracy Lee and Vicki Bell of Forney, TX; one daughter-in-law, Delores Bell of Kansas City, MO; two grandchildren, Jessica Ann Bell of Kansas City, MO and Jonathan Lee Bell and wife Carissa of Forney, TX; one great-granddaughter, Kaydence Bell; one great-grandson, Parker Bell; one brother and sister-in-law, Harold Leon and Neva Moore of Winigan, MO; one sister, Helen Brubaker of Winston Salem, NC and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and one great nephew.

After graduating from Novinger High School in 1953, Evelyn worked in Kirksville as Credit Manager for Sears Roebuck Catalog Store, and then after her first son was born, she worked for Burdman Auto Parts in the bookkeeping department until her second son was born. She worked a few months during the summer for three years for Meadow Gold Milk Company in the office. After leaving Kirksville, in 1965 due to her husband being transferred, Evelyn was kept busy being Cub Scout Den Mother, Room Mother, Bus Driver for little league baseball games, etc. for a few years, then got into the Real Estate Business, owning her own company called Better Homes Realty. While at the same time, she also managed a twenty-four unit apartment complex that her and her husband purchased. When her husband was transferred to Oklahoma City, she worked as a bookkeeper and customer service employee for a major department store. When she and Johnny moved back to Kansas City, MO in 1983, Evelyn worked for eleven years as office manager and inventory control manager for an IBM Consolidation Center. She and Johnny retired in 1994 and moved to Florida for nine years, before moving back to Kirksville in 2003 to be near family.

Evelyn loved being with family, cooking, collecting recipes, traveling, cross stitching and had made many beautiful pieces, and also enjoyed having a garden and canning vegetables.

Evelyn was a member of the First Baptist Church of Kirksville and was Baptized in 1967 at the First Baptist Church in Manhattan, KS.

It was Evelyn’s wish to have a closed casket funeral service which will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday (October 13, 2012) at Travis-Noe Funeral Home with Pastor Marty Joplin presiding. Interment will follow the service at Green Castle Cemetery in Green Castle, Missouri.

Public visitation will be held Friday (October 12, 2012) with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Evelyn Bell may be made to the First Baptist Church of Kirksville or to the Green Castle Cemetery. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.