Dianne King Cage loved the Lord, her family, her friends and her community. Born December 8, 1942 in Monroe, Louisiana, Dianne shared her graceful southern charm, playful sense of humor, and elegant demeanor in all she did. Her greatest joy was having her children and grandchildren over to her beautiful home and gardens she shared with her beloved husband, Mike Cage, to whom she always referred as Mike Cage. For 33 years, they made a home filled with memories of family, entertaining, and travel.
Dianne was proud to tell everyone she attended Georgia Tucker and later founded the Save Georgia Tucker Foundation, an organization singlehandedly responsible for rescue of the historic school building. After graduating Neville High School in 1961, Dianne attended LSU, where she was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority. She also served on the Rodeo Court.
Dianne committed her whole self actively to the projects and causes she loved. She was president of the Monroe Junior Garden Club and later president of the Monroe Garden Club. She was also an active part of the Junior League of Monroe, the Monroe Symphony League, the Ole Investment Club, president of the Potpourri Book Club, and held seats on the St. Francis Franciscan Mission for AIDS Board, the Ronald McDonald Board, and more. Dianne was appointed to the Monroe Planning and Zoning Committee and the ULM Foundation. The Boys and Girls Club, Medcamps, St. Paul’s Bell Tower and Columbarium were all beneficiaries of her generous spirit and legendary work ethic. Dianne’s creative vision and passion led her to honor Neville High School in a lasting way by designing a Christmas ornament depicting the stately old school. Proceeds from the purchase of the ornaments will benefit the George Snellings Scholarship Foundation and the Neville Cheerleaders.
Dianne became a household name when Gov. James A. Noe gave her a cooking show, “Seasons of Louisiana,” on KNOE. For 22 years, she combined her infectious wit with her cooking and gardening skills to the delight of fans across the Ark-La-Miss. Her years on KNOE led to two wildly popular cookbooks, “Cooking and Gardening with Dianne,” and “Dianne II: Cook and Tell.” Later, she wrote popular, charming articles for DeltaStyle Magazine and revived “Seasons of Louisiana” as a long-running column in the Ouachita Citizen Newspaper. Through her columns, cookbooks, and television appearances, Dianne gave audiences an intimate glimpse into the graceful, joy-filled life she made look so effortless, and in doing so she inspired others to reach for the best within themselves.
Dianne is survived by her husband Dr. Mike Cage; daughter Satchie Snellings Godfrey; daughter-in-law Janelle Snellings stepchildren Wilcox Snellings (Viria), Laura Wied (Jesse), Mike Cage Jr. (Leigh), Elizabeth LaRose (Walter), Sara Deshotel (Gregg); grandchildren Katherine Godfrey, Sallie Jayne Snellings, Georgia Dianne Snellings, George M. Snellings V (Quinn), John Snellings, Maria Del Mar Bolaños, Mary Amanda Theiss (J.R.), Katherine Kyrouac (Michael), Hannah Hostetler (Dillon), Taylor Colvin (Murphy), Jordan Wyatt (Jacob), John LaRose, Claire LaRose, Virginia Deshotel, Thomas Deshotel; great grandson Graham Colvin; brother Tom King (Jewel); sisters Wendy Gray (Rel), Rebo Bradford (Damon); sisters-in-law Virginia Shemwell, Carol Jarred, Susan Cage, Nancy Inabnett (Carrick) and brother-in-law Frank Snellings (Mary); son-in-law Bo Godfrey.
Dianne was preceded in death by her son, George M. Snellings IV; parents, Tom W. King and Ella Mae Baker King; in-laws, Shelby and Virginia Cage; brothers-in-law, Ronald Shemwell, Jodie Jarred and Joseph S. Cage, Jr.; and the father of her children, George M. Snellings III.
Honorary pallbearers are Bob Cudd, James Davison, Sherman Shaw, Dixon Abell, Harris Brown and Taylor Cagle.
Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, October 14, 2022, at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Monroe. Services will be officiated by Reverend R.B. Moore and eulogized by Wilcox Snellings with services under the direction and care of Kilpatrick Funeral Home Monroe.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made in Dianne’s honor to St. Paul’s Methodist Church, 1901 Lexington Avenue, Monroe, LA 71201, where she and Mike were faithful members for many decades or the Oaks Church at www.oakschurch.cc.
Our family is saddened beyond words at Dianne’s passing. Balancing this and lasting for our lifetimes are the love and wonders Dianne shared with all of us. Her joy for life was infectious. You just wanted to be around her…her enthusiasm, her sense of style, her humor. She made everything magical. She will always be with us.
Online condolence messages may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.
Kilpatrick Funeral Home
Monroe, LA
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