Mattie Mae Bell, age 93, of Mount Vernon, passed away in the early afternoon hours of Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, with her beloved children by her side. Mattie was born on August 27, 1924 in Mount Vernon to the late George Culpepper and Eucca Beatrice Young Tinsley. Following high school, Mattie married the love of her life and her best friend, James William Bell. Together they would spend nearly 50 years raising a family and living a lifetime of memories. He preceded her in death.
Mattie was a lifetime Baptist by faith. She and James were the owners and operators of Bells Grocery in Saltillo for more than 40 years. She took great pride in the years of dedication and service they provided the community of Saltillo. Mattie was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend who will be missed by all who knew her.
Mattie is survived by two sons, Oliver Bell of Bryan, Texas and Sherald Bell, and wife Gay, of Brenham; three daughters, Betty Robertson, and husband John, of Tyler, Della Gates, and her husband Ray Burke, of Tyler, and Cynthia Kratz, and her husband Emerson, of Saltillo; by one sister, Nadine Jennings of Mount Vernon; and by a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other relatives and very special friends. She was also preceded in death by four brothers- Ray, Johnny, Tommy, and Gayle Tinsley.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 11am at Old Saltillo Methodist Church.
