Virginia Carnell

Virginia Carnell, the daughter of Richard and Alline (Steen) Snell, was born June 11, 1934, in Butler, Oklahoma, and she departed this life on November 22, 2022, in Siloam Springs, Arkansas at the age of 88 years.

Virginia graduated from Chilocco Indian School in 1952 and married the love of her life, Kenneth Carnell, on November 11, 1955. Together they raised their family on a farm in Rocky Comfort, Missouri before moving to Grove, Oklahoma in 1973.

Virginia was a proud Cherokee artist who spent much of her time making Cherokee baskets and silversmithing. She enjoyed playing bingo, going to stomp dances, and traveling. She was a great cook and was known for her chicken and dumplings. Above all, she loved spending time with her family. Virginia touched many lives over the years and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Kenneth Carnell, her daughter Jeannie Dingle and her brothers Tom Snell and Ronnie Bushyhead.


She is survived by a loving family which includes her children Greg Carnell and wife Tammy of Oaks, Ricky Carnell of Oaks and Jamie Gilman and husband Ronnie of Leach; her siblings Jerry Drake and wife Carol of Grove, Betty Gray and husband Lee of Jay, Carolyn Osment and late husband Jeff of Jay, Steve Snell of Butler and Sherman Snell and wife Nancy of Grove; 7 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Several nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives also survive her.