Patricia Smysor Schnell's Obituary
Patricia Smysor Schnell of Gainesville, Florida, age 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 12, 2026, just 40 days after the death of her beloved husband, Frederick Stephens Schnell. A woman of faith, integrity and strength, Patty lived a life marked by devotion to family and service to her community. She approached people and causes with an extraordinary generosity, enthusiasm, and joy.
A Gainesville native, Patty was born on October 1, 1934 to Paul and Hazel Smysor as the third of four children. She attended P.K. Yonge grades K-12, graduating in the class of 1952. She then went on to attend the University of Florida, where she earned her undergraduate degree, as well as a Master of Education. While at the University, she was a proud member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. After graduating, Patty taught elementary school in south Florida for two years, returning to Gainesville in the summer of 1958 to marry her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Steve Schnell.
Patty and her husband spent their first two years of marriage living on the Navy base in Quantico, Virginia, where Patty worked as an elementary school teacher while Steve served in the Dental Corps of the US Navy. The couple returned to Gainesville in 1960, as Patty was expecting their first child and they wanted to be closer to family.
The couple built a life for themselves in Gainesville, Patty being a full-time homemaker and mother of two while Steve built his dental practice. As their kids got older, Patty broadened her volunteer involvements in the community and occasionally substitute taught. For over 30 years, Patty was an active member of a local chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), serving in various leadership roles, most long-standing as treasurer.
Another of her favorite community activities was being a cast member in the Children’s Theatre of Gainesville, traveling to perform a different play each year for elementary-aged children at schools in Alachua County and beyond. Every spring when her grandchildren came to visit, they would have a lot of fun going to see Grandmom in the play of the year.
Patty and her husband were also active members of the First Baptist Church of Gainesville. They enjoyed traveling with their children, taking the kids to see a different state in the US every summer. A true educator at heart, Patty took advantage of family travels, as well as everyday moments, to teach her children something important about life - guiding them with patience, wisdom, and unwavering love. She herself was a lifelong learner, and nurtured her interests in gardening, health, nutrition, and business. Her gracious and warm hospitality to friends and visitors to her home was renowned. She also was a regular walker, and after her kids grew up she took up jogging, even running a couple of half marathons and one marathon!
Her growing family was of great joy to her. She was delighted to receive four grandsons, two born to daughter Karen and two to son Ben, between the years of 1992 – 1999. She recently welcomed two great-grandsons, born in 2022 and 2023. She delighted in each new generation and cherished her roles as mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She also was a beloved aunt to her many nieces and nephews.
Patty’s qualities of gentleness, kindness, generosity, humor, warmth and love touched countless lives. She will be remembered as a loving wife and mother, a passionate believer in the power of quality education, an enthusiastic contributor to the Gainesville community, and a gracious hostess. Her legacy will live on in the family she cherished, the children she taught and served, the friends she enjoyed, and the many lives she touched throughout her long and meaningful life. She will be sorely missed by all.
Patty was predeceased by her parents, Paul Allen Smysor and Hazel Dodson Smysor, her brother Julian D. Smysor, her sisters Elaine Sherron and Charlotte Smysor, and her beloved husband of 67 years, Steve Schnell.
She is survived by her daughter Karen Elizabeth Schnell (Timothy), her son Benjamin Herman Schnell (Peggy), her grandsons Kyle Stephens Schnell (MaryAnne), Alexander Benjamin Schnell (Carly), Nathan James Nord, Joshua Dayne Nord, and her great-grandsons Weston James Schnell and Cooper Walker Schnell.
A joint Celebration of Life service, to remember Patty and Steve, will be held at 3 pm on Saturday February 28th at the First Baptist Church of Gainesville. A small reception will follow the service in the church’s fellowship hall. The family also invites you to share memories and condolences online at https://www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com/obituaries on Patty’s obituary page.
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