R.C. Bell

Mr. R.C. Bell, 85 of Protem, MO, passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2022 in Springfield, MO

Mr. R.C. Bell, 85 of Protem, MO, passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2022 in Springfield, MO. A celebration of life will be from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. Saturday, June 18, 2022 in the Kissee-Schofield-Eakins Funeral Home, Forsyth, MO.

R.C. was born in Trenton, Tennessee on December 23, 1936.  R.C. married Joyce (Noble) on July 30, 1956.  They were married for 63 years prior to her death on February 23, 2019. 

R.C. and Joyce had 5 children:  Danny (Sherry), Cathy (Bruce), Rickey (Kerry), Jimmy (Rowena), and Brenda; 18 grandchildren:  Steve (deceased), Joyce, Todd, Rickey, Tina, Chris, Cliff (deceased), Brad, Cyndi, Jennifer, Jessica, Amanda, Christine (deceased), Danielle, Cassie, Jessie, John and Brenden;  37 great-grandchildren and 6 great great-grandchildren. 

R.C. was an avid SCUBA diver and was a certified SCUBA instructor.  His love for diving really turned into a family affair. Grandchildren remember long days at the Cahokia public pool watching Grandpa teach and hanging out with the divers. Several of his grandchildren have become certified themselves, and though not taught by him; his great grandson is now certified.  Grandpa's love for diving is what brought him to Bull Shoals and started his whole dream of moving to the area and opening his Dive Shop, which fostered so many summer memories for many of his children and grandchildren. Also remembered, are long summer evenings sitting on the front porch swing of their house in Cahokia. His grandchildren describe R.C. as a kind soul who was never angry. He was someone who always had encouraging words, or an interesting story to tell whether it be about his own childhood or the childhood of his children. 

Grandpa always had a gentle hand to offer, including an incident with a wrecked dirt bike and holding his grandson's hand in the ER while telling his grandson how brave he was and kept him calm while he was being stitched up.

Many grandkids enjoyed summers at Grandma and Grandpa's where Grandpa would ride the rides with you at Silver Dollar City, teach you how to garden or teaching you the "1 finger wave," or as some grandchildren termed it, "The Gossip Gang." R.C. was loved by many. His stories and legacies will remain with all those who knew him.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kissee-Schofield-Eakins Funeral Home, Forsyth, MO.