Sidney Lanier Stell Jr.

Sidney Lanier Stell, Jr. (“Sid” or “Lannie”) of Maumelle, AR, passed away May 22, 2020, at the age of 69. He was born January 6, 1951, in Shawnee, OK, to Sidney Lanier Stell, Sr. and Joretta Joyce Cazzelle Stell.

Sid grew up between Shawnee and Midwest City where he went to Eastside, Monroney, Jarman, Midwest City High School and Carl Albert High School, graduating in 1969. He attended Central State University (UCO) before beginning his 45-year career in law enforcement. On Mar. 1, 1972, he started as dispatcher for Midwest City Police Department. Over the next 25 years, he became a Patrolman, one of the first motorcycle officers and SWAT team members, a Field Training Officer, a Detective and then Public Information Officer, all prior to retiring from MCPD on Mar. 1, 1997. Sid continued his law enforcement career as an Undersheriff with the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, a Trainer at Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, a Captain at the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and the Director of the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center, from which he retired Mar. 31, 2017. Sid was truly one of the good guys as a law enforcement officer. He kept perspective with his unique sense of humor which he freely shared with his fellow officers and the citizens of his community.

Sid and his wife of over forty years, Pam, were previously active members of the Del City Christian Church and its choir. He especially enjoyed singing as a bass with the Light Shine Musical Ensemble for many years. Sid was also actively involved with the church youth program, providing guidance and mentorship.

Sid had a great passion for vintage cars and motorcycles, as well as any auto memorabilia, especially Texaco, model cars, and Mickey Mouse paraphernalia. After retirement, Sid spent several years enjoying and taking his hot rods on road trips and to car shows. He was a member of the Old Cops Dinner Club (OCDC) where he met regularly with his former co-workers from MCPD. If you knew or had met Sid only once, you knew he had a great sense of humor with an occasional dry wit!

Sid was a life-long servant leader, for his family and his community. In addition to his full-time job, he could often be found working security at local businesses like Shotgun Sam’s, where he and Pam first met and Rob gave his approval, or Dillard’s at Heritage Park Mall, where Sid set up its first in-house security program. Sid always did whatever was necessary to provide for his family, including many years of caregiving toward the end of Pam’s life. We have also learned of many people and organizations he quietly helped and about whom we never knew. He truly had a generous soul.

Sid is preceded in death by his parents, Sidney and Joretta Stell, and his wife of more than 40 years, Pamela Malchar Stell. He leaves to cherish his memory his son, Robert Stell and partner, Jennie Price, of Edmond; daughter, Sheila Waldon Stell Gillis of Chickasha; sister, Linda Mae Smith of Norman; grandchildren, Gracie, Pete, and Adam Stell of Edmond; and niece, Tera Bisbee of Midwest City.

Due to present restrictions relating to Covid-19, a public visitation will be held Thursday, May 28, 2020, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Bill Eisenhouer Funeral Home NE, 8805 NE 23rd St., OKC, OK 73141. A private funeral service by invitation only will be held later. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to MCHS Vietnam Memorial Project, PO Box 30793, MWC, OK 73140, Concerns of Police Survivors Group (C.O.P.S), https://www.concernsofpolicesurvivors.org/donatepage, or to a charity of your choice.