Oran Bell

BLUEFIELD — Oran Ulysses “Cotton” Bell Sr., age 80, of Bluefield, W.Va., died peacefully Friday, August 19, 2011. PawPaw was a kind, gentle, and humble man. Playfully, he could tell a story like no other. He was a master at telling jokes. Mr. Bell retired after serving thirty-seven years with Norfolk and Southern Railroad where he was proudly known as “Cotton.” He always provided for his family as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie C. Bell and Gracie Mae Walker Bell; his siblings, Raymond Bell, Beulah Bell (infant), Dorothy Miller, Myrtle Osborn, Ray Bell, Roma Hylton, Edna Auton, Hazel Farmer, Ralph Bell, John Bell, Nora Farmer, and Federick Bell. He is survived by his loving wife, Goldie Marie Rose-Bell; and children, Ulysses Wayne Bell of Virginia, Thomas E. Bell of Statesville, N.C., David A. Bell of Portland, Ore., Yvonne Carol Draper and her fiancé Jesse Rivera of Tampa, Fla., Goldie Marie Sloan and husband Lorin Sloan Jr. of Bluefield, W.Va., Oran U. Bell Jr. and wife Tammy Bell of Bluefield, W.Va. Also in his memory are his grandchildren, M. Shannon Stuart and fiancé Cassandra Hockman of Christiansburg, Va., Andrea R. Bell and fiancé Eric Foster of Bluefield, W.Va., Joseph O. Bell and fiancé Katie Haines of Bluefield, W.Va.; great-grandchildren, Hannah Grace Foster and Emily Jo Foster of Bluefield, W.Va. Funeral services for Mr. Bell will be conducted Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. by Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell, W.Va. with Pastor Dewayne Belcher officiating. Interment will follow at the Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery. Carter Osborn, Jack Osborn, Houston Bell, Johnny Hazelwood, David Broyles, and Fred Rose will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Billy Hazelwood, Garland Auton, and Clay Osborn. Family and friends may call from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday evening at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell, W.Va. Online condolences may be sent to the Bell family at www.cravens-shires.com. During this period, Mr. Bell's daughter, Marie Sloan and her husband Lorin, will receive family and friends at their home in Bluefield, W.Va.