Donna Mae Bell, 92, was born February 5, 1932 in Belleville, Kansas, and passed away July 15, 2024 in Idaho Springs, Colorado. She was the daughter Nora Bertha (Boudreaux) Bell and Harry Gaylord Bell. She was an only child with no siblings. Donna lived in Belleville her first eight years, then her father built ammunitions plants for the government during World War II, in Alabama, and later Hastings, Nebraska. Donna graduated from Hastings High School in 1949.
She was united in marriage to Richard Tracy Morgan in 1950, and had two children, Lynn Tracy Morgan and Lori Gay Morgan. Donna was divorced from Richard Morgan, and married William Jackson Smith in December of 1957. William Smith died February of 1993 and Donna married Eugene Underwood in June of 1993. Eugene Underwood died in August of 1994 and Donna married Darrell Bell on February 3, 1995 and he passed away in Belleville, Kansas, on March 22, 2021.
Donna moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1955, living there over 50 years, moving back to Belleville in 2008, into the house her grandfather, Milton Bell, built in 1910, the house she was born in. She was an executive secretary for 20 years, became an ordained minister with United Evangelical Church and spent eight years in Mexico as a missionary. Upon her return from the mission field, she retained her ordination and became a motivational speaker with Women's Aglow, in the Catholic Church and in Women's Ministries in California. In 1994, after the deaths of William Smith and Eugene Underwood, she went to clown school and became a professional clown. She performed all over America, Europe, and was invited to the 2002 Winter Olympics to perform, a prestigious honor. After marrying Darrell Bell, he joined her after he attended clown school and they performed together.
Donna was also preceded in death by her parents and her son, Lynn Tracy Morgan.
She is survived by her daughter, Lori (Thomas) Finegan; grandchildren, Ryan, Alec and Jordan Finegan, Jobriath, Aaron, Kyle, Colin and Dylan Morgan; 11 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Graveside Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, September 28, 2024 at the Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, Kansas, with Pastor Rick Snodgrass officiating.
Inurnment will follow the services and there will be a reception for family and friends in the Hudson Room at Kallman Suites following the service.
Online condolences at www.bachelor-surber.com.
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.