Aug. 18, 1933-Jan. 27, 2023
Paula Obray Bell, passed away peacefully on Jan. 27, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. Paula was born in Paradise, Utah on Aug. 18, 1933, to Ernest and Kate Obray. She married Charles Connell (Con) Bell on June 27, 1952, in Logan, Utah LDS Temple.
Paula was a mother of five children: Mike, David, Jimmy (deceased), Rodney and Allison. Along with her husband and children, the Bells spent time outdoors riding horses, camping, skiing, golfing, hiking and flying.
Besides being a wife, mother and grandmother, Paula had a full-time career and volunteered her time in the community and held many positions in her church. Paula had a long list of “firsts” to her name including: first woman elected to Roosevelt Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as executive director, first woman pilot in Duchesne County and first woman elected president of Utah State Chamber of Commerce.
Paula’s journeys took her from Roosevelt, Utah, to Logan, Utah, and finally settling in St. George, Utah. While in St. George, she became the first woman president of the Noon Exchange Club and first local coordinator of the Huntsman’s World Senior Games.
She is survived by her four children Charles Michael (Sabrina) Bell, David (Lori) Bell, Rodney (Deanna) Bell, Allison (Jay) Keltner; 10 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She’s also survived by her sister Carol Jones and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Connell Bell, son Jimmy Bell, great-grandchild Lucy Bell, parents, brothers Ernest Obray Jr., Theron Obray, Bryce Obray and sisters Joyce Woods and Kathryn Napper.
Funeral services will be held in Richmond, Utah, at 11 a.m. at the LDS Church in Richmond, 135 W Main St., on Thursday, Feb. 2. Friends and family are invited to attend the viewing on the same day from 10-10:45 a.m.
The family would like to give a special thank you to Spring Gardens in St. George, Utah, for the care they provided to Mom.
For those who cannot travel to Richmond, services will be live-streamed on Zoom — meeting ID 830 1360 1076; passcode 867106.