Frances Guthrie Knueppel

Johnson City resident and native Texan Fran Knueppel, 86, passed away peacefully on November 3, the 54th wedding anniversary of her marriage to Hal Knueppel.  A native Houstonian who graduated from Lamar High School, Fran was a well known, award winning artist and art teacher, with paintings hanging in galleries and homes from coast to coast.  After raising her four children, she went back to college to complete her Bachelor of Art degree from the University of Houston in 1982. She and Hal were owners of the Morton Street Gallery in downtown Richmond.  Due to health and caregiving concerns, Fran and Hal moved to Johnson City two years ago to live with her youngest daughter Mary and her husband Paul Brooks.   While in Tennessee she and Hal were members of the Fountain of Life Bible Church. She is survived by her husband Hal, daughters Lynne Humphries (husband Rod) and Mary Brooks (husband Paul), and sons Bruce Blumentritt (wife Deborah) and Will Blumentritt, stepson Stephen Knueppel, grandchildren Scott (wife Stacy), Mark Humphries (wife Jenn Sabin), and Justin Humphries, Daniel Blumentritt (wife Megan), Andrea Eriksen (husband Johnathan), Susan Barratt (husband Joseph), Eric Blumentritt (wife Emma), Emily Mathur (husband Abhishek), Travis Blumentritt and great grandchildren Jackson and Sam Humphries, Margaret and Katherine Blumentritt, Clara Eriksen and James Barratt, and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. Fran loved people and cherished her conversations, especially about art. If anyone is considering memorial donations, they could be given to the Fountain of Life Bible Church, 118 Julie Ln., Johnson City, TN 37601, or The Church of the Living God, c/o Pastor Robert Hodge, 809 Morton Street, apartment # 15, Richmond, Texas 77469. A service will be held in Johnson City this week, followed by a life celebration to be scheduled sometime before year end in Richmond, and a family celebration at Thanksgiving in the Texas hill country. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.appfh.net. Those interested in seeing Fran’s art may go to www.franklyaboutart.blogspot.com.Appalachian Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 800 E. Watauga Ave., Johnson City, TN 37601, is serving the Knueppel family. (423)928-6111Read Obituary