John Michael Bell

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Mike, the baby of the family and someone who held a very special place in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. John “Mike” Michael Bell, of Danville, Kentucky died September 22, 2026, at the age of 61. He was born on January 13, 1965, in Lexington, Kentucky to the late Henry Thomas Bell and the late Charlene Durham Benge.

Mike had a heart of gold. He was kind-hearted, generous, and truly the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back. He cared deeply for the people in his life, and he had his own special ways of making sure they knew it. Mike was incredibly smart, especially when it came to numbers. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and treasures the friendships he made throughout his life. But above all, family meant everything to Mike. One of the things his family will miss most is his daily phone calls. Every morning, Mike would call his sister to just check in and see how she was doing. It was a simple routine, but one that meant more than words can say and will now be deeply missed.

Although Mike never had children of his own, he had so much love for the children in his family. He regularly called to ask about the grandbabies and loved receiving pictures of them. He took great pride in his nephews, too, and was never short on advice for them. No matter what was happening, Mike wanted them to know he was just a phone call away. Anyone that knew Mike knew how much he loved his momma. She held an especially precious place in his heart, and the love he had for her was immeasurable. Mike may have been the baby of the family, but the love he gave was enormous. His kindness, generosity, phone calls, advice, laughter, and caring heart will leave an emptiness that cannot be filled. We will miss hearing his voice on the other end of the phone. We will miss his check-ins and his advice. Most of all, we will simply miss Mike.

Mike is survived by his companion, Elaine Baker, his sister, Debbie (Kevin) Stamper, and his brother, Robert “Bobby” (Heidi) Bell, a bonus dad, Jimmy Benge, nieces and nephews, Erica, Lake, Cody, Molly, and Beau, who will carry his memory.

Memorial contributions are suggested to https://www.tmcfunding.com/funds/love-for-mike-bell-s-family/17212/