Fran Kitchell

FRANCES MARION KITCHELL (Fran) passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2023, two days before her 94th birthday.  

She was born in Butler, TN on October 14, 1929 to the late Glenn and Polly Snyder and was the oldest of five girls.  She was a graduate of Watauga Academy of Butler, TN and received her B.S. from Carson Newman College.  

She met and married CSM David Kenneth Kitchell, Jr. in Miami Beach, FL. She was a devoted spouse and mother as they traveled the world with the military, retiring to Miami FL and eventually returning to Mountain City, TN. where they lived out their retirement years together.  Many would know Fran as the “Hallmark Lady” as she enjoyed owning and operating The Family Book and Card for many years.  She was an avid reader and took great pride in providing a book store for her community.  She loved her church and was a faithful member of the choir in every church that she ever belonged to.  She also served her community in many ways through the years and was proud to have been on the board for Carson Newman College and a part of The Rotary Club.  

Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will remember her as a beautiful and vibrant woman who loved God, her family, her community, and her church.  She was filled with joy, love of life, and was truly the strongest woman they have ever met.  Fran was never a woman to shy away from a challenge and she faced each one that life brought her way with a resilience that those who knew her found remarkable.  

She leaves a legacy of great dignity behind.   

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, David Kenneth Kitchell, Jr.; sisters, Eleanor Hollaway Vannoy and Vida Juanita Bunting; a niece, Peggy Hollaway; and a nephew, Michael Holloway.

She is survived by her children; Glenn David Kitchell (Sue) of Farmington New Mexico, Kenneth Brooks Kitchell of Mountain City, and Karen K. Yarber (Steve) of Rolesville North Carolina; her sisters, Wilma Bunting of Kingsport, and Norma Ransom (Frank) of Butler; sister in law, Donna Layton of Tallahassee, Fl.; grandchildren, Christian Kitchell (Ashley), Erin Kitchell, Haley Lee (Cameron), Wesley Yarber (Anna), and Tyler Kitchell; great grandchildren, Ian Kitchell, Connor Kitchell, Owen Lee, Sutton Lee, Hattie Lee, Aiden Yarber, Smyth Yarber, and Kit Yarber; nephews Roger Ransom, Glenn Ransom, and Doug Norris; as well as great nieces and nephews that she dearly loved.  

A celebration of life service will be held at First Baptist Church of Mountain City on Friday, October 20, 2023 at 1:00 PM.  The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at the church, prior to the funeral service.  

The burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2023 at Mountain Home National Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Christian Kitchell, Tyler Kitchell, Wesley Yarber, Cameron Lee, Roger Ransom, Glenn Ransom, and Doug Norris.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to First Baptist Church of Mountain City, Tn.

The family of Frances Marion Kitchell has entrusted her services to Mountain City Funeral Home, 224 S. Church Street, Mountain City, TN 37683.