Obituary

Catherine Louise Cheatham Snell, beloved wife of Dr. James Daniel Snell, Jr. passed away September 6th, 2023. She was 88 years old.

Mrs. Snell was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, the third daughter of William Overton Cheatham and Ruth Mosley Cheatham on September 20th, 1934. She graduated from the University of Alabama and attended Vanderbilt Graduate School, before marrying James Daniel Snell, Jr. in 1958.

She was a dedicated wife, loving mother and grandmother. Catherine’s love of cooking manifested into a 17 year long career as the cook for Christ Church Cathedral of Nashville, Tennessee. She was a weekly volunteer for This N That thrift shop, as well as St. Luke’s Community Center for many years. She was active in Centering Prayer and a member of the Christ Church Cathedral Altar Guild. Known as “Cate” by her grandchildren, Mrs. Snell had a strong wit and wry sense of humor. She was an avid collector of all things art and had a special affection for outsider art.

Mrs. Snell is survived by her two daughters: Catherine Elizabeth Olah (John) of Healdsburg, California and Margaret Louise Alexander (Billy) of Nashville, Tennessee, her five grandchildren (Jessica Hamill, Ellen Fulmer, James Olah, Katie Alexander, Helen Alexander) and two great grandchildren (Leonidas and Lysander Hamill).

Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home, 2707 Gallatin Pike in Nashville, is handling funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Luke’s Community House or Larkspur Conservation.