Magdalene Kell

Magdalene Buchanan Kell, a lifelong resident of Paducah, died Saturday, March 19, 2011, in Osage Beach, Missouri.

Born September 27, 1919, in Ballard County, Ky., she graduated from Kevil High School as valedictorian of her class in 1936. She graduated from Draughon's Business College in 1939 and worked as a legal secretary for several Paducah law firms over the years. She and her husband, Harry S. Kell, owned and operated Kell Electric Motor Service in Paducah for 40 years. Harry Kell died in 1986.

Magdalene was a member of First Baptist Church in Paducah for 75 years and was active in Sunday School and the Women's Missionary Union. She was president of the PTA of Clark Elementary School, Brazelton Junior High School and Paducah Tilghman High School, and was an active and proud member of the Paducah Ambassadors for many years.

Magdalene is survived by her two sons and their families. Her son, Harry Kenneth Kell, and his wife, Becky, live in Elton, Missouri, and their daughter and her husband, Heather and Peter Venezia, and their son, Noah, and daughter, Isabel, live in St. Louis, Missouri. Magdalene's son, Randal Buchanan Kell, and his wife, Jan Churchill, live in Annapolis, Maryland, and have three children. William Todd Kell and his wife, Taylor, and their two children, Margaret Cary Kell and Haley Stuart Kell, live in Richmond, Virginia. Sarah Churchill Kell lives in Richmond, Virginia, and Emily Buchanan Kell lives in Savannah, Georgia.

Magdalene is also survived by her two sisters, May Etta Rottgering of Paducah and Annette Perkins of Springfield, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry, and her parents, Verner Bunt and Fanny Hook Buchanan, of Ballard County, Kentucky.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 2, 2011, at Carson Chapel of First Baptist Church of Paducah.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Ukrainian Mission Project, First Baptist Church, 2890 Broadway, Paducah, KY 42001.