A Celebration of the life of Donald C. (Papa Red) Bell, 76, of West Monroe, Louisiana, will be held at 10:00AM Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at Fair Park Baptist Church Chapel, West Monroe, LA with Rev. Jon Tellifero officiating, assisted by Rev. Waymond Warren. Interment will follow in the Roselawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Calhoun under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe.

Visitation will be held from 9:00AM until service time.

Mr. Bell entered into eternal rest with the Lord and Savior of his life, June 20, 2026. He was a member of Fair Park Baptist Church of West Monroe, LA. He has served churches in north Louisiana as Interim Praise and Worship Pastor for over 50 years, beginning at Lakeshore Baptist Church in Monroe, LA at the age of 15. Building bridges, by providing leadership as choral director or praise and worship leader, he served many churches during times of transition. A self-proclaimed passion for music worship and choral conducting led him to service in churches from coast to coast. Additionally, he had the distinction of being the only performer to have ever been invited to perform on the Louisiana Hayride, not having to audition.

Born at the U. S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA, on June 25, 1949, Mr. Bell spent his early childhood in Shreveport, LA, and moved with his family to the Monroe/West Monroe area, graduating from Ouachita Parish High School and attending Northeast Louisiana State College (now ULM) majoring in vocal music education. Bell was the Director of Medical Office Buildings for Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe, LA, and managed the Glenwood Medical Mall and its other properties and holdings for more than 30 years. He was currently employed by SERVPRO of Monroe/West Monroe.

Active in his community through civic and professional organizations, Bell served as chairman of the West Monroe/West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce (1991), chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board (1997 and 1998), Med Camps of Louisiana Advisory Board, West Monroe Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club of SouthPark/Shreveport and the Sertoma Club of Monroe, where he received the Centurion award for outstanding service in 1973. He also served as a mentor for the West Monroe High School Rebel football team and chaperone for the West Monroe High School Band. He was a Master Mason and 32nd degree member of the Scottish Rite, and serving as President of the 12th Reunion Class.

He is predeceased by his parents. E. J. Bell of Riverside, CA, and Maurine Stephens of Monroe, LA, as well as his in-laws, Randolph and Paula Cage of West Monroe, LA.

Mr. Bell is survived by his loving wife, Kathy Cage Bell; children, Matthew (Danielle) Scharf of Farmerville, LA, Amy (Bobby) Tinsley of West Monroe, LA, David D. Bell and Kathy D. Bell Reinhardt of Gulfport, MS; grandchildren, Jonah Steven Scharf, Sydney Brooke Scharf, Sadie Kate Scharf, Wade Nelson Tinsley; brother, Greg (Dahnell) Bell of Alexandria, LA; sister, Roxanne (Waylon) McCormick of West Monroe, LA; and several nieces and nephews that he dearly loved.

Serving as pallbearers as Mike Newsom, Tim Allen, Aaron Jordan, C. David Dumas, Matthew Scharf, Bobby Tinsley and Jonah Scharf.

Honorary Pallbearers are Charles Johnston, Wayne Fowler, Michael Jones, Roy Shivor, Randy Hennigan and Mack Smith.

Memorials may be made to the Jason Paul Cameron Foundation, Gideons International or Fair Park Baptist Church.