Carroll “Kay” “Bobo” Melvin Snell, 91, of Hutchinson, died September 24, 2022, at Hospice House. He was born January 18, 1931, in Hutchinson, to Joseph Marvin and Jessie Ellen (Ryerson) Snell.
Carroll graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1949. He joined the United States Army September 1950. In eleven months, he went through the ranks to become Staff Sargent and the unit was returned to state control in 1952. Carroll was recalled to active duty in 1963, for a short time to train in biological and nuclear warfare. He retired from the Army National Guard in 1971, after more than 20 years of service.
Carroll was nicknamed “Kay” while growing up, and later was given the name “Bobo” by his first great-grandson, Austin Mendenhall. From then on this was his new title with family and close friends. Carroll was also known as “Sergeant Snell” in the Army and National Guard, and as “Porter” at the Post Office due to his love of country music.
He was a member of Eastwood Church of Christ, Hutchinson. Carroll loved serving others, and most importantly, he loved taking care of his family. He enjoyed game night with the family, whether it was playing cards, Dominoes, or Aggravation. Carroll also enjoyed traveling, and loved western books, movies, and art. He was a big KU basketball fan and enjoyed watching them play with his wife, Joyce. Carroll was known for being an avid St. Louis Cardinal Baseball fan and he made sure his children and grandchildren were fans too.
He was the definition of a servant leader. Carroll and Jody took care of, mentored, housed, and fed countless people; from family and friends, to people they barely knew. He never knew a stranger and would give you the shirt off of his back, then take you shopping for some more. Carroll was also very well known for his jokes. He probably was the inspiration for the term “Dad Jokes!” Carroll loved life and he lived it big. He was loved by so many for many years and will be missed by many. Carroll’s presence was an energy and light that will still shine for a very long time.
In January 1954, he met the love of his life, Joyce “Jody” Stroup from Agra. Carroll asked her to marry him on the third date and she said no, but they were together every night and every night he proposed for 14 nights until she finally said yes! On her death bed, she confessed to him, that after the first date, she had written to her mother that she had met the man she planned to marry.
In 1954, he started work at the Hutchinson Post Office for 33 years as a clerk carrier and supervisor, retiring in 1986. Carroll and his wife then purchased Hutchinson Book and Bible, which they operated for six years, and he again retired, closing the store in 1992. During this time, he served five years on the Hutchinson Human Relations Commission, one year on the board of Meals on Wheels, as a deacon and then elder at Eastwood Church of Christ, totaling 22 years of service. Not being content to sit around, he worked as Santa at the Hutchinson mall, Miracle Hearing Aids, and Downtown Development, before having a massive stroke in 1998. He was in the hospital for 28 days and spent months in rehab before becoming 85% active again. After his stroke, he and his wife, Joyce, traveled extensively to Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, and Missouri, especially to Branson.
Carroll is survived by: daughters, Mary Ellen (Michael) Nowlan of Hutchinson, Theresa (Richard) Walker of Fredonia, and Lori (Jerry) Reed of South Hutchinson; six grandchildren; and numerous great-grand-children, great-great-grandchildren, and step-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death: by his parents; wife; son, Mark Snell; son-in-law, Robert Mendenhall; three sisters; and five brothers.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 29, 2022, at Elliott Mortuary with Jimie-Wray Mead officiating. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Burial Park, with military honors being conducted by the Kansas Army National Guard. Friends may sign his book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, with the family present from 6—7:30 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary.