Curlas “Preston” Bell was born January 24, 1931 in Tryon, Oklahoma to Edgar and Odessa (James) Bell.  He passed away November 12, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of 86.

Preston proudly served his country as a Corporal in the US Army during the Korean War.  He and his wife, Naomi, shared 62 loving years together before her passing in 2014.

Preston worked in the oil field for several years.  He later began his own custom wheat harvest business during which time he built his first drilling rig and became well known as C.P. Bell Drilling until dissolving his company in 1992.  After retirement he went into the cattle business where he remained until his health began failing in 2016.  Preston loved spending time with his family and friends.  He enjoyed fishing, cookouts, Hank Williams music and John Wayne movies.  He will always and forever be greatly missed. 

Preston was preceded in death by his wife, Naomi Lee Bell; parents, Edgar and Odessa Bell; sister, Barbara Mobley Davis; three brothers, Billy Joe Bell, Johnnie Lee Bell, Edgar Dewayne Bell; infant sibling, baby Bell; and great-granddaughter, Anita Phillips; great-grandson, Stephen Lane Hunt.  Survivors include his three sons, David Bell and wife Anita of Guthrie, Curtis Bell and wife Tina of Gravette, AR, Bruce Bell and wife Patty of Carney; (5) daughters, Karen and husband Byron Bointy of Oklahoma City, Loretta and husband Will Johnson of Carney, Marilyn Hunt of Cushing, Carolyn Wade of Carney, Amelia and husband Greg Evans of Carney; (21) grandchildren; (22) great-grandchildren; (3) great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Imogene Simpson of Dumas, TX, Kathleen Johnson of Tulsa; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; and his most enduring companion, Rex, his Jack Russell of 16 years, who passed away just 3 days later.

A viewing will be held at the Lehman Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 16, 2017 at the First Baptist Church of Carney. Interment will follow with military honors in the Carney Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Lehman Funeral Home of Wellston.