Marvin Edward Bell, the son of James Lloyd and Dorothy Louise (Murry) Bell, was born December 21, 1928 at Langdon, Missouri, and was a life-long resident of the state. When he was six years old the family moved to Stockton, where they lived until moving back to Langdon in 1942. He attended grade school at Independence School, near Stockton, and Excelsior and Benton Center Schools, near Langdon. Marvin then attended Rock Port High School, graduating in 1948. He had a great zest for life and enjoyed the years at Rock Port High, where he was quarterback and co-captain of a winning football team under Coach Richard Hinderliter.

Marvin was united in marriage to Joann Carolyn Tiemeyer, and they became the parents of three sons, Stephen Michael, Patrick Lee and Nicky Bruce.

The couple farmed near Langdon. After the flood of 1952, they moved to a farm east of Rock Port where they lived until moving into Rock Port in 1957. In 1979, they moved to Cameron, then to St. Joseph in 1981. After leaving the farm, Marvin became an over-the-road truck driver, retiring in 1999 because of health problems. He passed away Monday, July 20, 2009 at Carriage Square Health Care Center in St. Joseph at the age of 80 years.

Marvin loved kids, dogs, gooseberry pie, football, baseball, country western music, pickup trucks and 18 wheelers. He had many friends and enjoyed nothing more than helping solve the world’s problems with them at a truck stop over an afternoon cup of coffee.

Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by a sister, Lois Wade. Survivors include his wife, Joann Bell of the home; three sons, Stephen Bell and his wife, Jill, Rockport, Massachusetts, Patrick Bell, Solebury, Pennsylvania and Nick Bell, San Francisco, California; five grandchildren, Thatcher Bell and his wife, Victoria, New York City, New York, Courtney Bell, West Barnstable, Massachusetts, Tyler Bell, Los Angeles, California, and Jonathan and Matthew Bell, Rockport, Massachusetts; two great grandchildren, Fiona Madeleine and Arlo Miller Bell, New York City; sister, Maxine Randall and her husband, Allan, Odenton, Maryland and brother, Denzil Bell and his wife, Thelma, Falls City, Nebraska; numerous cousins and a host of friends.

Services: 1:30 pm, Friday, July 24, 2009 at Rock Port Baptist Church, Rock Port.
Interment: Hunter Cemetery, Rock Port.
Open visitation will begin after 9:00 am, Thursday, July 23, 2009 at Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port, where the family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.
Memorials: Rock Port Baptist Church or Atchison County Memorial Building Foundation.
Services under the direction of Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.