George La Vaughn Bell

George La Vaughn Bell, 91, of Gray, died Saturday, August 27, 2022. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Hart’s Mortuary, Jones County Chapel, with the Reverend Creston Groover officiating.  Burial will follow at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens.  The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org).

Mr. Bell was born in Fort Payne, Alabama to the late George William Bell and Vernia Dellia Stone Bell. He graduated from Sylvania High School in Sylvania, Alabama, where he earned All-State honors as a running back and served as the co-captain for the football team.  He married Mary Dee Peek of Henegar, Alabama January 20, 1951.  They were married for forty-four years, ending only by her passing in 1995. In December 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to an artillery unit and specialized in the signal corps. Mr. Bell earned the American Spirit Honor Medal, among others, then served an additional four years in the Alabama National Guard and two years in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Mr. Bell worked briefly as a lineman for Southern Bell, but soon found the career he loved with Southern Railway beginning in Chattanooga, TN. In 1958, he was transferred to Macon by Southern Railway, continuing to serve there as a communications maintainer and supervisor until his retirement in 1987. He was a longtime member of the Shurling Seniors Bowling League. He loved cigars, animals, sweet potato pie, and playing his guitar along with any country music show. He was most happy helping other people and spending time with his family. Mr. Bell had a long history of volunteering with the Macon Baptist Association and the Macon Rescue Mission. He served as a deacon, teacher, committee member and/or VBS director at Westlawn Baptist Church, Pine Forest Baptist Church, Second Baptist Church, and Immanuel Baptist Church. As a lay person, he was an avid student of the Bible and loved to help anyone in need. He blessed dozens of foster children by serving as their foster-granddaddy. Mr. Bell loved to fish and was a man who could fix just about anything. He was very creative, resourceful, innovative, and knowledgeable of all forms of electronics. As a hobby he worked on car radios, telephones and televisions for friends and neighbors, as well as church sound systems for over half a century.

Mr. Bell is survived by his wife of 27 years, Evelyn Bell of Macon; son, Steven L. Bell (Deborah) of Gray; daughter, Dee Anna Gattie-Sellers (Glenn) of Gray; grandchildren, Aaron Scott Bell ( Katrina), Kristen Marie Meservey (Chad), Brian Gattie (Elizabeth), Brandon Keith Gattie (Danielle), Amber Robinson (Tommy), Leena Gattie, Alicia Gattie, Micah Gattie, Lizzie Gattie-Sellers, Darci Gattie-Sellers, Anna Gattie-Sellers, and Ivy Gattie-Sellers; 14 great grandchildren, Luke, Jackson, Eli, Jacob, Kohen, Mary Beth, Amelia, Cade, Izzie, Lincoln, Noah, Gage, Addison, and Gavin; two sisters, Shirley Gann and Margaret Watwood, both of Rainsville, Alabama; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Bell is predeceased by his first wife, Mary Dee Peek Bell; stepdaughter, Krista Frye; and siblings, William Ray Bell, Delmar Othel Bell, Billy Joe Bell, Lynell Bell, Paul Bell, Barbara Ann Keaton, Wanda Kay Bell, Junior Bell, and Nita Reno.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s Mortuary and Cremation Center, Jones County Chapel, 307 Pecan Lane, Gray GA 31032 has charge of arrangements.

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