Sam will lie in state for visitation on Sunday, May 31, 2020 from noon to 5pm in the Griggs Schooler Gordon Funeral Director's Pioneer Chapel located at 5400 Bell Ave in Amarillo. A celebration of Sam's life will be held on Monday, June 1, 2020 at 2pm in the Southwest Church of Christ located at 4515 Cornell St in Amarillo with Brent Adams presiding. The service will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/griggsschoolergordon for those who wish to watch from home. Social distancing guidelines will be monitored in accordance with the church's request and facial coverings are strongly encouraged.
Sam was born on May 14, 1936 in Talihana, Oklahoma to S.E. and Mae Bell. He was the oldest son and second child in his family. The family moved to Amarillo when he was 14 years old. He began working at Gouldy Bros. Feed & Seed when he was 17 as a delivery driver. In 1965, he moved his young family to Wichita, Kansas and worked as a fireman for 1 year before returning to Amarillo and Gouldy Bros. He purchased the business in 1980 and retired in 1999. He worked a variety of jobs until going to work for his grandson, Taylor, at Amarillo Cotton Company in 2009 until October of 2018 when health reasons forced him to truly retire. He loved spending his summers in the mountains of Colorado fishing, panning for gold and metal detecting. He loved his family deeply and enjoyed spoiling grandchildren, great grandchildren and great- great grandchildren. His radiant smile was ever present even until the very end. Sam was a long time member of Northridge Church of Christ and in recent years became a member of Southwest Church of Christ congregation. He loved the Lord and Dr. Pepper and was an inspiring role model to family and friends throughout his lifetime.
He is survived by three sons: Gene Bell and wife Dawn, Jack Bell and wife Kari, and Troy Bell, all of Amarillo and two daughters: Kathleen Wagner and husband Kevin of Henrietta, Texas and Belinda Sullivan of Amarillo. Two brothers: Stacy Bell of Willow, Oklahoma and Gary Bell and wife Carol of Dill City, Oklahoma and three sisters Linda Shortt and husband Monroe of Wichita, Kansas, Carolyn Kendall and husband Don of Mangum, Oklahoma, and Pam Young and husband Lloyd of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He left behind 20 grandchildren, 63 great grandchildren, 5 great- great grandchildren, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, S.E. and Mae Bell, a sister Lena Keesee, a granddaughter Sarah Mae Bell, and two great granddaughters, Ansley Roye and Kayleigh Bell.
The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Amarillo Center for Skilled Care for the love and care they extended to Sam in the last months of his life.
