Richard Earl (Dick) Snell passed away in the comfort of his own home in Hornbeck, Louisiana on May 10, 2024. He was born on March 10, 1941, to Mary Ann Slaughter Snell and Ivan E. Snell of Hornbeck, Louisiana, where he lived most of his years within a small radius of the home where he was born.
Richard completed his education at Hornbeck High School in 1960. He served his country as a sharpshooter in the Army National Guard until he was honorably discharged in 1968, after which he mastered multiple professions. He was known far and wide as an amazing cook, whipping up fried oysters, catfish, and batches of pickles for loyal fans at restaurants such as Fisherman’s Galley, and more recently, Big John’s Country Kitchen. As his grandchildren, we will miss his Saturday morning biscuits, eggs, and sausage breakfasts, the pans of holiday dressing, and the ever-present pots of homemade chicken and dumplings or chicken and sausage gumbo. We will also miss his ‘secret’ recipes like the brisket rub that he wouldn’t even share with Dusty.
Richard successfully owned and operated several small local businesses during his lifetime, most recently his expertly handcrafted cedar furniture known as Sherry’s Cedar Works. He told us many stories of working in the water well business, as well as in roofing and construction, building at least two homes we know of with his own two hands. In fact, there wasn’t much Richard didn’t know how to do. He was the go-to-guy that people near and far called when something broke, and he always knew how to fix it. He was the hardest-working man we knew. For the rest of our lives, none of us will ever catch the scent of cedar and not immediately think of him.
Richard was very adventurous, often exceeding the limits of what one might expect an 83-year-old to be able to do. When we were younger, he outfitted his truck to run on recycled cooking oil, and traveled the entire country for business and leisure even when Nana said they smelled like fried chicken everywhere they went. Richard was very fond of loading up and driving cross country and had homes in both Colorado and Branson. We all know that his favorite place to go was Colorado, and he and Nana took us on vacation there several times, often taking us 4-wheeling and skirting the absolute edge of the roads and trails on the mountains he loved so dearly. Richard truly loved spending time there with his very best friend, Greg Curtis, more times than we can remember, and in fact was planning to go back again very soon. Richard and Nana also enjoyed owning a place in Branson that we got to spend time at as children, and they both loved showing us the sights and sounds they enjoyed as summer ‘locals’ there. A few years ago, Richard took his dream vacation to Alaska and had the time of his life. He was an avid outdoorsman whose livelihood often depended on weather, part of his daily routine was to check the conditions frequently, but he didn’t just check it for his location. We all have had the phone ring with either Nana or him on the other end letting us know that he was seeing that there was “a storm a brewin’” in our area (whether that was Nashville, Houston, Kansas City, New York, or wherever in the country any of his grandchildren were) and he wanted us to be prepared for it. Richard frequently supported the dirt-track races, both here locally and others, and took his grandkids with him several times. He could sit in the stands and rattle off a startling amount of information about most of the drivers and cars on the track, no matter who or where they were from. He also loved watching sports and discussing LSU games with his grandchildren and relaxing on his favorite recliner after a hard days’ work.
Richard probably clocked a million miles burning up the roads in one vehicle or another, with Mikey Sanders as his sidekick, as he traveled for work. One of our favorite stories was when Nana told us about the time he’d been over in East Texas dropping off a load of cedar chairs when his transmission malfunctioned, and he drove every single mile in reverse down the shoulder of the highway to get back to Hornbeck. Richard knew the history of just about every single building in Hornbeck, and what he didn’t automatically know, he knew who to call to find out. He was the unofficial mayor of Hornbeck and couldn’t go anywhere without running into people who wanted to chat with him for even just a few minutes.
He was our loving grandfather for the vast majority of our lives, and we are honored to talk amongst ourselves to gather memories and compose this obituary for a man we will miss so greatly. He was a true constant in the lives of all of us, having been a part of our lives through our Nana Sherry for over three decades. We would have dearly loved to have her input in writing this, because she had an unlimited supply of hilarious stories about Richard. Walking into the Little Snell House he built for our Nana and seeing his empty recliner has been a hard thing to accept, for all of us who love him.
Being ‘family’ isn’t always about blood, but about the bonds that are built layer by layer over the many years that we were so blessed to have him. Those bonds held strong even after we lost Nana. Richard was a great provider for those he loved, and gave selflessly to ensure their wishes were fulfilled, and we will be eternally grateful to him.
Richard not only lived a long life, but he also lived a deep and wide one. We are grateful that he did not suffer in his death and was living right up until his last moment. He was very loved by many people in Vernon Parish and the surrounding areas. We are so thankful that we have had the opportunity to experience a life with Richard, and the void he has left in the lives of those who knew him will never be filled. We know you and our Nana are happily together again in Heaven, taking another road trip and blasting Rod Stewart wide open on the stereo. Thank you so much, Richard, for everything.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Ivan E. Snell and Mary Ann Slaughter, and his sister Louise Snell, son Terry Hickman, and son-in-law Donny Edwards, and his wife of 27 years, Sherry Snell.
He is survived by many loving family members from his marriages to both Donna and Sherry: children, Tamela and her husband, Roger Mills; Melinda Manasco Louvier, Melissa Manasco, Alan Manasco, and Melanie Green and her husband, Bryan; grandchildren and great grandchildren: Duston Hickman and his wife Christine, plus their children Calli, Destiny, Kaydence and Harper; Caleb Speight and wife Madison Rogers, Molly Mullis and children Skylar and Harper; Whitley Louvier and her husband, Jeremy Boyd, Kaitlin Louvier, Chandler Louvier, and Jacob Louvier; McKenna Green Ellis and husband Taylor and daughter Harper, Jackson Green and his wife Danielle and daughter Hannah; Brady Manasco and his wife Raven, children Hendrix and Finley; Taylor Peavey and her husband Joshua, and Kennady Tarter. He also leaves behind his beloved pet cat, Bubba, who is lost without him.
At Richard’s request, a graveside service was held at Oak Grove Cemetery in Hornbeck, Louisiana, on Tuesday May 14, 2024, at 10 a.m., where he was buried next to his father, Ivan E. Snell.
His departure left a deep wound that is gravely felt by his entire family and countless others who knew him in the community. The family appreciates the community’s support and outpouring of love during this very difficult time. In lieu of flowers, please contribute by sharing your favorite memories of Richard with us at richardsnellmemories@gmail.com, or make a donation in his name to the Humane Society of West Louisiana in honor of Richard’s love of all animals.
“Where the ocean meets the sky, I’ll be sailin'”
– Rod Stewart, Rhythm of my Heart
