Francene Snell, 56, of Knoxville, Tenn., passed away at 1:35 p.m. Thursday, March 9, 2023, at UT Medical Center in Knoxville.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday March 18, 2023, at Kentucky Road Christian Church in Mexico, Mo. Burial will follow at Benton City Cemetery, in Benton City, Mo.
Visitation will be Saturday from noon until service time at the church.
Pickering Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Condolences to the family may be given at pickeringfh.com
The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorial gifts be given to Ozark Christian College or Johnson University to fund initiatives that support spiritual development of female students. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, Mo 65265.
My obituary
Francene Snell was born in the small town of Mexico, Mo. on February 17th, 1967. She was brought home to the same property in Audrain County that her beloved father, Albert Conklin, lives today. She was welcomed (maybe) to the fold by 4 brothers: Dale, Dean, Norman and Marshal. Over the years, the fold expanded with a sister, Candy, two sisters-in-law: Eldona (Dale) and Chaille (Norman), and several precious nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
At a music contest rehearsal during the spring of her freshmen year at Mexico High School, she met a boy named Jeff Snell. The rest is history. They married on March 4th, 1989 and later (not very much later) had delightful children: Allisan, Andrew, & Antonia. They each married and have their own children. Dane and Allisan Ogden have Emmarie, Kadence, Lyric & Gibson and live in Lenoir City, Tenn. Andrew and Becca have Ollie, Sullivan, and Griffen and live in Webb City, Mo.; Nicholas and Antonia Hilgediek have Gabriel and live in New Albany, Ind.. Francene attended Central Christian College of the Bible. She and Jeff graduated from Ozark Christian College (Jeff later became Dr. J. Jeffrey Snell). Francene homeschooled their children (to their children’s chagrin), took care of her home and family, while also rescuing a zillion cats and some dogs.
This is my obituary: Francene loved the Lord with all her heart. She really began living in the spring of her 6th year when she was immersed at Kentucky Road Christian Church by her brother Dale. She was graciously given the opportunity in 5th grade to play the piano for Sunday night church. This began a ministry of playing for VBS, camps, church services, camp teams, choir tours, school, etc. She talked to God through her music. But music really wasn’t her primary ministry—she just liked to help where help was needed. She and Jeff served at Carriage Hills CC in Lawton, Okla. and at Petersburg Church of Christ in Petersburg, Ill. Jeff was later called to professorship at Ozark Christian College-Joplin, Mo., Lincoln Christian University Seminary Lincoln, Ill., Johnson University Knoxville, Tenn. in addition to voluntary teaching stints at Maritime Christian College in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and TCM Institute in Vienna, Austria. As Jeff taught, Francene worked in the local churches/colleges as Sunday School teacher, piano player, ladies’ group coordinator/teacher, curriculum writer, coordinator of professor & staff wives’ get-togethers, and as a prayer and mentoring ministry coordinator for JU female students. Francene loved to give gifts and pray, especially with her dear friends.
Francene and Jeff had many opportunities to serve God’s kingdom in many parts of the world. To be honest, sometimes Jeff taught while Francene and the children played, but otherwise, she served the Lord by taking care of gardens and enjoyed whatever task was at hand: teaching workshops, playing the piano, encouraging, etc.
Francene loved her children with all of her heart. Her “sweet spot” was times that her family was home together: watching tv, playing, chatting on the porch swing, baking dozens of Christmas goodies, rolling newspapers for paper routes, reading, doing crafts, cutting down trees, and so forth. Just when she thought life couldn’t get any better, the grandchildren came along. Oh the pleasure that they brought their grandmama: sleepovers, bonfires, JU cafeteria visits, craft projects, FaceTime visits, walks, talks, watching the sunset, late night snuggles--just being with all of them was the best of times for her.
What is Francene doing now? She hopes to be finally learning to dance as she worships on the streets of gold. She hopes to be put on the banquet committee for the biggest, most amazing banquet of all time. Also, she is becoming your loudest cheerleader! She, along with all the saints, her family that went before, and friends from churches, is cheering for you. Francene is waiting for you to come in God’s good timing. She will be eager to welcome you HOME. Most importantly, she is with Jesus and He is eager to welcome you Home.
