Lois Bell O’Rear, 87, a lifelong resident of the Dreka Community of Shelby County, passed away Tuesday,
January 7, 2025, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 11, 2025, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center
with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. Bro. Kevin Windham will officiate. Interment will follow at Strong
Cemetery in Huxley.
Born December 13, 1937, in Center, Lois is the daughter of Arthur Willis Bell and Ruby Laura Cain Bell. She
finished school at Strong and worked several years as a bookkeeper for businesses in Center. Lois was the first
Shelby County Sheriff’s Posse Sweetheart. On September 7, 1957, she married the love of her life, Donald
O’Rear, and the two were married for sixty-one years. Her hobbies included horseback riding and rodeoing. She
was a master gardener, a four-time champion poultry producer, and a lifelong cattle raiser until April 2023. Lois
was a member of the Ladies Saddle Club and Oakland Missionary Baptist Church in Shelbyville.
She is survived by her daughter, Sheila O’Rear of Shelbyville; sisters-in-law, Sue Bell of Center and Jean O’Rear of
Shelbyville; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her husband, Donald O’Rear; parents, Arthur Willis Bell and Ruby Laura Cain Bell; brothers,
James Bell and Charles Bell; sister, Margaret Kay; brothers-in-law, Kelly O’Rear and Bennie O’Rear; and sister-in-
law, Pat O’Rear.
Pallbearers will be Larry O’Rear, Buddy Jones, Billy Robinson, Justin Bell, Jason Bell, and Dylan Jones. Honorary
pallbearers will be Sammy Furlow, Johnny Mathews, Ken Boles, and Karla Vaughn.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made Strong Cemetery, c/o Craig Hendricks, 6894 FM 3172,
Shelbyville, Texas 75973 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.
Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com