JoNell Bellew

JoNell Bellew, 85, of Owensboro, passed away on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at Chautauqua Health and Rehabilitation. She was born January 3, 1939 in Owensboro to the late Albert William and Florence Hagan Bellew. JoNell grew up around Moreland Park where she loved playing tennis. She graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School in 1956, attended Brescia College, and was a member of First Baptist Church. She also worked at General Electric before she married and raised seven children with Ray Watkins. They moved to Tallahassee Florida and spent the next 30 years there before moving back to Owensboro. JoNell worked in retail sales and volunteered at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. She loved spending time with her family, listening to music, and dancing. JoNell was the mother of twins, the grandmother of twins, and soon to be great grandmother of twins.

 JoNell was preceded in death by her first husband, Raymond Mitchell Watkins; her second husband, Robert Edward Pistana; a twin son, Aaron Meredith Watkins; a grandson, Logan Lockhart; a sister and her husband, Patty and Todd Sweeney; a brother-in-law, Larry Buckman; and a sister-in-law, Liz Bellew.

 Surviving are her children, Sonya Lockhart (Tony) of Owensboro, Neville Watkins (Regina) of Clarksville, Tennessee, Todd Watkins (Mary) of Tallahassee, Florida, Michael Watkins (Tammy) of Evansville, Barend Watkins (Loretta) of Jacksonville, Florida, and Emily Collins (Bruce) of Monticello, Florida; 12 grandchildren, Josh, Maggie, Natalie, Lindsey, Saxon, Cheyanne, Macey, Aubrey, Braden, Mason, Peyton, and Aaron; two great grandchildren and four on the way; two brothers, Harry Bellew (Peggy) of Owensboro, and Jim Bellew of Wilmore; four sisters, Mary Beth Buckman of Henderson, Shirley Dieterle (George) of Dunwoody, Georgia, Beverly Rudy (Joe) of Owensboro, and Martha Abshier (Mark) of Louisville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

 Funeral services will be 2 PM Friday, July 5, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory with burial following in Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 AM until the time of the service Friday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory.

 Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 230 J.R. Miller Boulevard, Owensboro, KY 42303. Messages and condolences to the family can be shared at www.glenncares.com.