John Clinton Snell, Sr. was born on July 4th, 1942 in Shreveport, LA to the union of Clinton Theodore Snell and Mary Chambers Snell. He passed from this life and into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday March 2nd, 2024. He was reunited with his precious wife, Dianne, who preceded him in death and for whom he has grieved greatly, but not without hope and the certain promise of the Lord that he would be with her again. That promise has now been fulfilled, as they walk hand in hand in Paradise.
Services will be conducted by Dr. Chad Hardbarger. The visitation will be conducted in the chapel of Centuries Memorial Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 6th from 4 PM to 6 PM. The funeral and interment will follow on Thursday, March 7th at 2 PM.
John was a 1959 graduate of Fair Park High School and a veteran of the US Army. He held a degree in criminal justice from LSUS and graduated from the LSUS Law Enforcement Institute, 19th session, in Baton Rouge, LA. He retired from the Shreveport Police Dept, as a captain, after 25 years of service. He served in both patrol and investigations divisions, was the first commander of the Crimes Against Persons Bureau, and wrote the operations manual for the newly created bureau. After retirement he worked in security for Doctor's Hospital and Courthouse Security Caddo Sheriff's Office. He was also a singer/songwriter, well known among his music peers for his original songs and recordings. One of his releases, "The Wind is a Woman," reached #7 in sales in the local area in 1974. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, E. G. Huckabay Lodge #3 and the LSU Alumni Association. He was a diehard Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees fan.
John is survived by two daughters, Laurie Morris/Robert and Julie Karr/Patrick; one son, John Snell Jr.; three grandchildren, Aimee Lafitte/Daniel, Jamie Buchanan, and Sarah Karr; four great grandchildren, Layton and Maci Lafitte and Willie and Dominic Johnson; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and a multitude of friends; "his special Mitchell family" who were still dear to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mildred Barr Smith and Ellie Lee Barr; three brothers, Blanchard B Barr, Milton V. Snell, and James Ray Farmer; his father-in-law and mother-in-law; a brother-in-law; a sister-in-law; several aunts and cousins and one special cousin, Mark Lowrey, who was like a brother to him; and one very special nephew, Matthew, who left this world much too soon -- "for of such is the Kingdom of God" (Luke 18:16).
A special thanks to Dr. David Abdehou for his attention and care. Also a special thanks to Garden Court Rehabilitation, and especially to Amber Linn, speech therapist, who brought light, hope, and love into a dark time. May God bless you all.
John loved to spend time in the Word of the Lord and he was so thankful that he was a redeemed sinner by the Saving Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Absent from the body, present with the Lord.
