Larry Neill Bell

He passed away after complications from Alzheimer’s disease and Post-COVID Syndrome.

Larry was born in New Era, Louisiana to Mary Belle Trisler Bell and Lawrence Rayner Bell in his grandparents’ farmhouse on July 1, 1934. He spent his childhood there and in Golden Meadow, Louisiana. He was an avid high school basketball player and valedictorian of the Monterey (Louisiana) High School class of 1952. From there, Larry went on to graduate from Louisiana State University in 1956 with a degree in Petroleum Engineering.

He began his career in the oil and gas industry with Atlantic Refining Company in Odessa, Texas in 1956, then took a leave of absence from 1957-1960 to serve as a Fighter Intercept Squadron Officer in the United States Air Force. He resumed his engineering role with Atlantic Refining in Odessa in 1960. He continued to serve the company proudly and with distinction for thirty-two years in locations all over the US, including five years in Alaska from 1971-1976 as the Drilling Superintendent at Prudhoe Bay north of the Arctic Circle, the largest oil field in North America. He retired in 1992 as Vice President of Engineering and Operations in Dallas, Texas from ARCO Oil and Gas Company, successor to Atlantic Refining and now BP.

He enjoyed spending the early years of his long retirement in Plano getting down to a 12 handicap on the golf course, reading the many books he’d never had time for, and loving his wife, children, grandchildren, cats and grandcats.

Larry is survived by his children Jean (Don), Susan, Neill (Morgan), Mary (Kirk) and grandchildren Caitlin (Ram), Kendall, Henry and Charlie. He is also survived by his sister Lynda (Sam) and brother Dickie along with several nieces and nephews as well as a host of friends all over the world. Larry was predeceased by his grandparents Samuel Albert Trisler and Ruth Dale Trisler, his parents, his stepfather John Williams, wife Beryl Eva Bordelon Bell, first wife Carole Loy Grafton Bell, and daughter Janet Lynn Bell.

There will be no services. If desired, donations in his name may be made to a charity of your choice. Arrangements under the direction of Ted Dickey Funeral Home, Plano, Texas https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/texas/plano/ted-dickey-funeral-home/4914.