Celebration of Life services for Evelyn Marie Lee Bell will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, July 13th at Grace Bible Church of Sherman.  A private burial at West Hill Cemetery will be held prior to the service.  Evelyn, 93, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Saturday, July 1, 2023.

Evelyn was born in Silsbee, Texas on April 15, 1930, to James Christopher Reeves and Maggie Mae Hayes Reeves.  When Evelyn was only eight days old, her mother died, and she went to live with her aunt and uncle, Arthur and Jewitt Whitman, who was her mother's sister.  Arthur and Jewitt lovingly raised her as their own child and were instrumental in God's plan for her life.  Placing her in this family was God's caring provision for Evelyn as he accomplished His will for her life.

Evelyn's mother started her in piano lessons at the age of five and she made sure she was in church whenever the doors were open.  Evelyn began her journey of faith as she came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior at the age of nine and was baptized in June of 1939.  She served as pianist and organist at South Main Baptist Church of Pasadena Texas starting at 17 years of age and continued to serve and minister through her music all the days of her life.

Evelyn graduated from Pasadena High School in 1947.  She continued her education and her study of Music at East Texas Baptist College, University of Houston and completed a summer session at the St. Louis Institute of Music.  Evelyn began teaching piano and soon met Daniel Edward Lee who caught her attention by asking to take a piano lesson, he would become her husband of 53 years.  Evelyn and Dan were married November 21, 1949, and were blessed with three children, Norman, Greg, and Karen and two grandchildren, Will and Gill.  After Dan passed away Evelyn remarried Billie Preston Bell and they were married five years until his passing.

Music was Evelyn's life, her gift, her calling, she served through music in some capacity at every church she attended, one of which was South Main Baptist where she served for 29 years.  She also served at First Baptist Church of Madisonville, TX, First Baptist Church, Central Christian Church and Grace Bible Church all of Sherman, TX.   Evelyn provided music for youth and adult choirs, weddings, funerals, soloists, and ensembles and she provided musical entertainment in a variety of social settings.  She continued playing for Sunday services at Pecan Point Assisted living of Sherman until she was 93 years old.  Evelyn taught piano for over 60 years, teaching, and mentoring students of all ages.  She worked as a church secretary of South Main Baptist Church of Pasadena, TX, and First Baptist Church of Madisonville. She had a natural God given talent, ability, and humility that she was always willing to share.  She was musically gifted and shared it so freely, unselfishly and to the glory of God.

Evelyn worked many years as a church secretary at South Main Baptist Church and 1st Baptist Church of Madisonville, Texas.

Evelyn's greatest joys were her Lord, her children, and her grandchildren, and she loved with all of her heart.  Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." She is survived by one son, Gregory Eugene Lee of Sherman; one daughter, Karen Marie Gray and her husband Bill of Melissa; and two grandchildren William Scott Gray and wife Ashton of Allen and Gill Marie Gray of Dallas.  She was preceded in death by two husbands, Daniel Edward Lee and Billie Preston Bell; and one son, Norman Edward Lee.

Memorials may be made to Grace Bible Church, Sherman, TX.