Jerry Kimmel Snellgrove

Jerry Kimmel Snellgrove was born October 14, 1924 in Poplar Bluff, MO to Homer (Honky) and Natalla Garner. She graduated from high school there and married Bruce Kimmel who soon went into pilot training in the Army Air Corps. She had her first son, Bruce II, shortly after Bruce was sent to the South Pacific in World War II as a fighter pilot. After the war, they had their second son, David, and moved to Texas where Bruce worked in various segments of the car business.
In 1961 they opened a Volkswagen dealership in Jonesboro and knew they had found a home. Jerry loved Jonesboro and being close to her parents in Poplar Bluff.

Jerry was a real people-person and loved to be around her family and friends. After Bruce passed away in 1996 she spent most of her time with kids, grandkids and traveling.

In 2006 Jerry and a long-time friend, Frank Snellgrove began keeping company and before long they married and had a happy, although short marriage that ended with Frank’s death in 2008.

Jerry leaves two sons, Bruce Kimmel II (Brenda) of Kingston, TN and David Kimmel (Connie) of Jonesboro; four grandchildren, David Kimmel Jr. of Memphis, Laurie Kimmel (Zach) of Jonesboro, Kirstin Bull (Chris) of Annapolis, MD, and Greg Kimmel (Jenifer) of Oak Ridge, TN; six great-grandchildren and two step-children, Pam Huffer (Mark) and Scott Snellgrove (Susi).

The family wants to thank the staff at Jonesboro Healthcare, St. Bernards Hospice and Jerry’s personal caregiver, Donna Junyer, for the loving care extended to her. Services are entrusted to Emerson Funeral Home with visitation on Sunday at 1pm until time of service at 2pm with the Rev. Dan Walker officiating.

Lasting Memorials can be made to St. Jude’s children’s Research Hospital or the NEA Humane Society.