Betty Jo Bell, 56, Osawatomie, died June 24, 2002 in her home.

She was born August 31, 1945 in Paola, the daughter of Cecil C. and Lorene Baker Shepherd. She attended Osawatomie High School and graduated with the Class of 1963.

She met Bob Bell in Garnett at the Graham Cattle School. They were married and lived in Texas and New Mexico where they both worked on ranches until his death. She returned to Osawatomie to be closer to her family.

Mrs. Bell worked at Heritage Manor in Osawatomie in the 1990s as a cook. She had also worked at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Paola as a cook and was employed at the Medicalodge of Paola in the laundry department at the time of her death.

She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in block, the Osawatomie Historical Society and the Osawatomie History Museum Foundation.

Others preceding her in death were her father.

Survivors include her mother, Lorene Hydorn of Osawatomie and two stepsisters, Eulalah Henricks of Ottawa and Daisy Mordt of Troy, MO.

Services were held at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home following by burial in Elmdale Cemetery in Osawatomie.