Jonell Britsch Schmitt

Jonell B. Schmitt, 95, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2024, in Canton, GA with her three daughters by her side. She was born February 4, 1929, in Hondo, Texas to Emil and Freda Britsch, descendants of pioneer settlers in the area. Jonell grew up in Hondo, riding horses and walking to school. She excelled academically and became Valedictorian of her high school class. From such a small town, she was reluctant to go straight to a big university, so she happily spent two years at Texas Lutheran College before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism. Jonell had a passion for the written and spoken word. She maintained an extensive vocabulary throughout her life, amazing and entertaining those around her with her continuous words of wit. Working on a newspaper was Jonell’s lifelong dream, which she realized for a brief time after college at the Austin American-Statesman and San Antonio Light, the Knoxville News Sentinel, then again later at the Oak Ridger.

Jonell married Harold (Hal) Schmitt, a PhD candidate at the time, on May 4, 1952. They moved to Los Alamos, NM until he completed his thesis in nuclear physics. In 1954, they relocated to Oak Ridge, TN, where they lived for over 60 years. Their three daughters were born in Tennessee and grew up in their longtime home on Canterbury Road. Jonell was the kind of mom who drove kids to school after missing the bus, made a last-minute French or Russian dish for International Relations Club, sewed dance costumes (she hated to sew!), led Camp Fire troops, drove field trips, supported all her girls’ sports teams, and always remembered her daughters’ friends’ names. She volunteered at Recording for the Blind, Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center, the Atomic Energy Museum, and the YWCA’s Nearly New shop. She taught Sunday school and served on the boards of the YWCA and the Oak Ridge Art Center. Still, she was always home to greet her daughters and their friends after school with a snack, eager to hear about their day.

Hal’s work in the Physics Division at ORNL produced an endless stream of foreign visitors and graduate students, who often appeared for dinner. Jonell created delicious homemade meals and seemingly effortless parties. Visitors so appreciated her hospitality. When Hal accepted a scientist exchange position and moved the family to Karlsruhe, Germany for a year (1967), Jonell navigated the German school system for her girls, was quick to make friends, maintained an active social calendar, and took every opportunity to visit near and distant countries to absorb the local culture. Traveling remained a large part of their lives until it became too difficult. Jonell rode a camel in Egypt and an elephant in Thailand, cruised the Danube, the Rhine, and the South Pacific, toured endless castles and museums, and savored many other adventures.

As the girls grew up, Jonell was able to pursue her passion for the newspaper as Intermission (Entertainment) Editor at the Oak Ridger. She enjoyed writing Playhouse reviews and interviewing visiting artists. She wrote lifestyle articles pulled from her own life experiences. Her stories were as varied as raising three very different teenage girls and babysitting precocious grandchildren.

Gardening was a favorite pastime of Jonell’s. For years, she would tend to the shrubs, trees, and flowers at their home. Countless family Easter photos were taken under the pink flowering cherry tree in her front yard. She often battled the deer in her backyard rose bed, with the deer more times than not claiming victory along with a full stomach. Even after the years had stolen her ability to pursue gardening activities, she never stopped appreciating what the garden offered.

When her family allowed her free time, Jonell loved to play bridge. She belonged to multiple bridge clubs that lasted many, many years, affording her a group of wonderful friends. In addition, Jonell and Hal had an extremely close group of family friends who shared most every significant holiday and event together.

Jonell had an adventurous spirit and an ongoing desire to learn, signing up for ORICL classes whenever she could. She and Hal were very active in the Oak Ridge community including volunteer work, ORCMA, ORICL, and fellowship at First United Methodist Church. Jonell was warm and kind and had an easy laugh and a great sense of humor that found its stride in her golden years. Her witty remarks often left her children, grandchildren, and her caregivers doubled over in laughter. Her adoring family will miss her beautiful smile, warm laugh, and loving hugs.

Jonell is survived by three daughters and their husbands: Carol and Larry Behm of Laguna Hills, CA; Laine and Gene Harrington of Woodstock, GA; and Joy and John Narciso of Mansfield, TX. Also surviving are seven grandchildren: Janet (Dave Statner) Behm, David (Lindsey) Behm, and Phillip (LaBon) Behm of CA; Kevin Harrington of Atlanta; Dana Harrington (Justin) Swanner of Dallas; Michelle Narciso of Chicago; and Andrew Narciso of Mansfield; plus seven great-grandchildren: Charlotte Statner; Harley and Aiden Behm; and Luna, Rosalie, Violette, and Henry Behm. She is also survived by her dear sister, Marjorie Huffman of Houston, TX and two nephews and their families. She was predeceased by her husband of 68 years.

The family wishes to express thanks to the many people who cared for Jonell in her final years at Greenfield Assisted Living in Oak Ridge, Benton House in Woodstock, GA, and finally Ridge Manor in Canton, GA. A Celebration of Life will be held on June 15, 2024, at 4:00pm at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge, TN. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you sit quietly, have a glass of wine, and enjoy your garden.