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Betsy Mills and Ron Brothers. The Death and Cemetery Records of Lamar County, Texas, ReBroMa Press, 2008, http://www.lamarcountytx.org/cemetery. (12/16/2025)

THE PARIS NEWS, Oct. 9, 1997, p.4B: (Picture) Sam Rayburn Bell died on Wednesday, October 8, 1997 at home. He was preceded in death by his wife Sara, who died on September 22, 1997. Rayburn and Sara had been married since Valentine's Day, 1938. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 in the sanctuary of the Central Presbyterian Church on Church Street. Rayburn graduated from Paris High School, Paris Junior College, and The University of Texas at Austin. He graduated from the F.B.I Academy and served four years in the F.B.I. during World War II. Rayburn was a great storyteller, and some of his favorites were about his F.B.I. years. According to one of his great grandsons, Tristan 'We wouldn't have won the war if it hadn't been for Grandaddy,' after he had heard one of Rayburn's stories. Rayburn instilled a love of learning and education in his children and grandchildren. He gave them the belief that they could accomplish anything. Rayburn cared deeply about his fellow men, especially in the Paris community. He was constantly thinking of ways to help others; recently he was working on a plan to get surplus bicycles distributed to needy kids. Rayburn was selected as an Outstanding Alumni by Paris Junior College. He had served as President of its Board of Regents for several years. Rayburn was appointed by Gov. John Connally to the Texas State College and University Coordinating Board, which helped to revolutionize the scope of Technical Education in Texas. He accepted an appointment to the Texas Higher Education Commission in 1962. Rayburn participated in many areas of the Paris Community. He was a past Board member, program chairman of the Rotary Club and was named as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was past Board member and committee chair of the Chamber of Commerce. He helped in the campaign to secure Campbell Soup Company and the Pat Mayse Lake. Rayburn was campaign chairman of the United Way Fund, served on the regional Board of the Boys Club, and was Chairman of the first Civil Service Commission in Paris. Rayburn was a Ruling Elder, former teacher of Sunday School, and a Lay Leader at the Central Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Board of Realtors and the state and local Jaycees, and was chosen Outstanding Young Man in 1940 and later outstanding Boss. Rayburn was partners in the real estate business with his wife Sara and son John for 35 years. Rayburn was Realtor of the Year in 1978 and Board President in 1972 and 1979. Rayburn served on a number of campaign committees for the Democratic Party in local, regional, and state races. He was a Delegate at the 1960 Presidential Nomination Convention in Los Angeles. Surviving are a daughter, Robin Gurka and husband Vince of Austin; sons John F. Bell and wife Linda of Paris, Dr. David Bell and wife Michele of Wills Point; grandchildren Lance Letscher, Leslie Isaacs, Sara Gurka, John R. Bell, Bree Ann Phillips, Laura Miller, Adam and Jenny Bell, Roxy, Justin and Wendy Baker; great-grandchildren Jonathan, Gabriel, Tristan Jana, Liz, Jordan, Jessica, Joshua, Andrew and Sara; sister Mary (Mrs. Dabney) Hodges; sister and brother-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Felix (Jean) Gibson; sisters-in-law Kay Wyatt and Josie Wyatt; and brother-in-law David Wyatt; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Paris Junior College Memorial Foundation or to the Central Presbyterian Church.'

THE PARIS NEWS, Thu., Oct. 9, 1997, p. 1A: '(Picture) Services for Sam Bell, 79 set Saturday - Sam Rayburn Bell, who served as President of the Paris Junior College Board of Regents and was appointed by Texas Gov. John Connally to the Texas State College and University Coordinating Board, died Wednesday at his home. His death came only days after his wife, Sara Bell, died Sep. 22. The couple had been married on Valentine's day in 1938. Mr. Bell graduated from Paris High School, Paris Junior College and the University of Texas. He also graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy and served four years with the FBI during World War 11. He was selected as an Outstanding Alumni by Paris Junior College. His time on the College and University Coordinating Board was at a point when the board worked to revolutionize the scope of Technical Education in Texas. He accepted an appointment to the Texas Higher Education Commission in 1962. He was active in the community. A past board member and program chairman for the Rotary Club, he was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He also was a past board member and committee chair of the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce. He was instrumental in the campaign to secure Campbell Soup Co. and Pat Mayse Lake. He served as Campaign chairman of the United Way Fund and on the board of the Boys Club of Paris. He also was chairman of the first Civil Service Commission in Paris. He was partner in the real estate business 35 years with his wife and son John. Mr. Rayburn was a delegate to the 1960 presidential nomination convention in Los Angeles. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the sanctuary of Central Presbyterian Church.'