Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Diana McKnelly
Apr 9th, 1939 - Mar 14th, 2022Shelby “Diana” McKnelly, age 82, of Bible Grove, Illinois, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, March 14, 2022.
Diana was born in Wayne County to Vernard and Lillian “Toots” (Merrick) Ile on April 9, 1939. She was united in marriage to Roy Dale Fitch in 1956, and he preceded her in death in 1990. She later married Roger McKnelly in 1995, and he preceded her in death in 2010.
Diana had a zest for life and always gave of herself for others. Over the years she was a homemaker, custom seamstress, school cook at Bible Grove and then Louisville following school consolidation, and finally the Hampton Inn breakfast hostess until she retired at the age of 70. When asked why she waited so long to retire, she replied, “What else would I do?” She enjoyed many hobbies over the years including mowing her yard twice a week, caring for her flowers in the yard, and sitting on her porch and visiting. She enjoyed craft shows, shopping, attending the Edgewood Opry, and going to eat fish at the Tin Cup in Noble. She was a great cook and loved feeding anyone who visited her home. She always stocked the refrigerator with sweet tea and Pepsi.
She is survived by a daughter: Janice (Tom) Brooks of Louisville; grandchildren: Aszure Fitch of Louisville, Larissa (Joe) Goodman of Xenia, Whitney Fitch of Edgewood, Sarah (Deric) Newby of Louisville, and Jonathan Fitch of Las Vegas, Nevada; 9 great-grandchildren: Maci Harmon, Layton Dawkins, Connor Dawkins, Mylee Hilderbrand, Jaxton Easley, Navalynn Fitch, Broderick Britz, Lauren Newby, and Rhett Goodman; special friend: Bud Bailey; brother: Randy (Sib) Ile of Minerva, Ohio; sisters-and-brother-in-law: Karen Kilby of Kinmundy, Barbara (David) Dennis of Flora, Ron Fitch of Mt. Carmel, Carolyn Fitch of Ogden, Barbara Ile of Mt. Vernon; many nieces and nephews; and her faithful pup, “Barney.”
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands: Roy Dale Fitch and Roger McKnelly; a son: Donald Allen Fitch; and 2 brothers: Clinton “Gene” Ile and Charles “Chuck” Ile.
A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Interment will follow in Bible Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be 10 until 11 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial donations are suggested to Clay County Hospice and will be accepted through the funeral home. The family would especially like to thank Flora Gardens Care Center for the special care they provided for Diana. To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com