Jack Richard Bell, Sr., 74, went to meet the Lord on March 8, 2010. He was born in Lubbock, Texas on October 8, 1935, to Opal and J.R. Bell. Mr. Bell has lived in Palacios for the last six years and has become a familiar face in the community as he walked the Bayfront daily for much of that time.

Known as Coach Bell during his 31 years as an educator, he had a successful career as a high school basketball coach in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado, taking teams to the state boys' basketball tournament in the latter two states. He remained Coach Bell throughout his life to the hundreds of men and women whose characters he positively shaped through his hard work and example.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Barbara Polasek Bell; his son Jack, Jr. of Palacios; his daughter, Judi of Fort Worth; his son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Dena, of Denver, Colorado; his son and daughter-in-law, James and Kerri, of Branson, Missouri; his grandchildren Sherice, Amanda, Patrick, Tanner, and Kiera of Denver Colorado, and Phoebe and Christian of Branson, Missouri; his sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Sonny Sims, of Early, Texas; and his brother Jeff Vaughn, of Coleman, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his infant son Luther Frank Bell and; his parents Opal Vaughn, and J.R. Bell.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, March 11, 2010 at the First Baptist Church of Palacios with Rev. Zack Nicholson officiating. Interment will follow at Palacios Cemetery, Palacios, TX. Pallbearers will be Casey Niland, Larry Roche, Doug Cheatham, Jimmy Johnson, Nathan Raska, and David Grice.