Marilyn Bell

DONIPHAN - Marilyn Ann (Reng) Bell, 89, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025. Marilyn was born on May 20, 1936, in Dunlap, Iowa to the late Dr. Carl and Ruby Reng.

As a young girl, Marilyn moved frequently with her parents. Her dad worked for the Navy setting up training programs on college campuses and closing out those same programs after World War II. She was taught to swim as a young girl by a Navy ensign in a base swimming pool. She attended many different elementary schools and learned to make friends quickly. She finally landed in Jonesboro when her father was hired to be President of Arkansas State University. Marilyn spent her high school years in Jonesboro and attended college at ASU. She graduated from Arkansas State with a major in biology and a minor in English and did additional graduate work in English and Library Science. Her sister Barbara was born in Jonesboro and completed the Reng family.

Marilyn was very active in college as she worked on the school newspaper, played the saxophone in the band, was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority where she served as president and was a little sister for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. She was also honored to be on the football homecoming court two different years and was an avid fan of Indian athletics. She was a winner of the prestigious Wilson Award.

After college she married and had two daughters, Beverly Weathers of Doniphan, and Belinda Bell of Owensboro, Ky. They survive as well as her granddaughter Carli Stokes of Doniphan and great-grandson Noah Stokes, also of Doniphan.

Marilyn began her teaching career at Annie Camp Jr. High and then taught at Marion High School in Marion, while her husband attended dental school in Memphis.

After Benny completed dental school, Marilyn and her family moved to Doniphan in 1965. She taught one year at Naylor High School and the rest of her years at Doniphan High School. She taught sophomore English and finished her career as the High School librarian. During her tenure at DHS, she was Beta sponsor for many years where she actively worked to raise funds for St. Jude's Children's Hospital, one of her favorite charities. She loved her time at DHS and had many friends among the staff and students. She retired in 1997.

Marilyn was an avid reader and loved books. She was very active in the community being a member of many civic organizations including Business and Professional Women's Club, Jr. Fiction Club, Tuesday Reading Club and PEO. She was a longtime Brownie/Girl Scout leader when her girls were young. She organized the "bell ringing" during the holidays for the Salvation Army. She also had a love of playing bridge and enjoyed many different bridge clubs over the years playing with her friends. Marilyn loved her church and was a longtime member of the Doniphan United Methodist Church where she served as MYF (youth) leader in the late 1960s, sang in the choir for more than 40 years, and served on a hospitality committee sending cards and flowers and planning dinners.

Including Beverly, Belinda, Carli and Noah, Marilyn leaves behind her sister Barbara Reng of Jonesboro, many nieces and nephews and many lifelong friends.

Preceding her in death were her parents Dr. Carl and Ruby Reng, Dona Reng and son-in-law Charles Weathers.

Visitation will be held at Edwards Funeral Home, today, from 3 to 5 p.m., with the memorial service immediately following at 5 p.m.

Memorial gifts can be made to the Doniphan United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 582, Doniphan, Mo., 63935 or the Lean on Me Food Pantry of Doniphan P.O. Box 586, Doniphan, Mo., 63935.