James Edward Abell

James Edward (Jim Ed) Abell, age 83, of 2230 Ford Avenue, Owensboro, died Friday, May 20, 2005 at his home. Born in Bloomfield, KY, a son of the late Virgil M. and Nellie Swearingen Abell, he retired as General Agent for Commonwealth Life Insurance after 34 years of service. A member of First Baptist Church, he was Sunday School Director for 19 years, served as a deacon from age 27 until retiring as Deacon Emeritus, and was a member of the Maverick Sunday School Class. He was a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Lamp and Cross, Scabbard and Blade, the Mens Glee Club, and the University Choristers. He also wrote for the Kentucky Kernel newspaper and the Kentuckian yearbook. A U.S, Army veteran of World War II, he served in the European Theater. He was a 60 year Mason and a Travelers Protective Association National Director.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Madison Jewett Abell on January 6, 1987, and is survived by his wife Marie Wood Laswell Abell; two daughter and their husbands, Julie Abell (Mark) Dexter of Danville, and Jamie Abell (Richard) Stewart of Brookfield, Connecticut; two step-daughters and their husbands, Larkin Laswell (Carroll) Hayden and Ann Laswell (Andy) Fiorella both of Owensboro; a stepson and his wife, John T. (Sarah) Laswell of Louisville, 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandsons.

Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m. Monday at Glenn Funeral Home. Graveside services and burial will be at 11:00 a.m. EST Wednesday at Battle Grove Cemetery, Cynthiana, Kentucky.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children, 10200 Linn Station Road, Louisville, KY, 40220.