ROGERS — Gina Marie Kell,
age 60, of Rogers, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, November 29, 2020. Gina was born December 17, 1959, in Baltimore, Md., to Jack and Margaret Heck, who preceded her in death. She is survived by her loving husband, Bert, daughters, Courtney Becton (Dr. Trey) and Maggie (fiancé Brandon Droy), grandson, Wilson Becton, sister; Kimberly George (Dr. Johnny), brothers; Mark Heck (Meredith) and Bradley Heck, parents in law; Betty Sue and Wilson Kell, sister and brother in law; Cindy and Jim Shenep as well as a host of nephews, nieces and cousins.
Gina graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1982 with a Bachelor of Education. She was a founding member of the Phi Mu chapter at the U of A and often talked about the friends she made in college through her involvement in Phi Mu. College was also where she met the love of her life, Bert, by giving him a ride home one night and later enjoying their first date at Hugo’s. They married in 1985 and spent the first part of their marriage in Little Rock. The family then moved to Rogers in 1994 and made so many lifelong friends, mostly through their membership at Central United Methodist Church. This friendship continued over the next 26 years through birthday parties, Razorback tailgates, enjoying live music and laughing over glasses of red wine. Gina loved her family fiercely and most especially loved hosting them for Sunday night dinner. She loved being outside (as long as it wasn’t freezing cold) and was happiest reading a book on the beach, tending in her garden, biking or walking the Razorback Greenway, floating on the Buffalo river, or hiking in the Ozarks or Colorado mountains.
Gina was a lifelong educator. She taught for 26 years in Rogers Public Schools, where she spent the last several years as a Math Facilitator at Elmwood Junior High School, which she considered her second family. Education was a true passion of hers and her family often joked about how summers were supposed to be off for teachers, yet she always kept working throughout them. She just loved any and everything to do with school.
Gina was also an incredible artist and specialized in watercolor, however, there really wasn’t any medium she couldn’t do. So many of us are fortunate to have her paintings adorned in our homes and offices. Her newest role was being “Gigi” to her grandson, Wilson. She thought the world of him, and him of her. They were two peas in a pod, and he thought she hung the moon. When Gigi was around, no one else mattered to Wilson.
Gina was the most selfless person and was happiest helping others. You could always find her painting for someone, planning a shower or finding some act of kindness to just make someone smile. She was a bright light to all that met her and touched so many lives. She will be missed by so many.
Due to the concern of spreading Covid-19, a private memorial will be held on Friday, December 4, at 1 p.m., at Central United Methodist Church. Online livestream of the ceremony will be available at www.cumcrogers.com/livestream. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church Rogers or the Rogers Public Schools Education Foundation.