November 1934 – May 2023
The most special person in our lives has left us. Mom was born in the family farmhouse in Wyndmere, North Dakota to Raymond and Jane McManigle Snyder, and grew up with a passel of cousins. She was very popular in school, and despite her diminutive size (5’2”, eyes of blue), played baseball and basketball. She was quite athletic. She moved to WA in 1952 after high school graduation (class of 11 kids!). She worked for Boeing in the bombays of B-52’s from 1952-1958, but most important, it was there she met the love of her life, Donald, in 1954. They married in 1957; daughter Tami came in ’58, and son Scott in ’59. To the “dismay” of her children, she worked at Hazelwood Elementary in the Renton District during their time there, and was affectionately known by the school kids as “Old Meany”.
It was a good life, filled with love, laughter, pets, and many summer camping trips with family and good friends. She loved her yard and gardens, and worked hard to keep them beautiful. She was a terrific cook, much to the benefit of her family. She was very outgoing and could make friends with anyone, anywhere, anytime. We couldn’t have asked for a better Rock for our family.
Alzheimer’s started to take her from us about 4 years ago. And while this last year she couldn’t remember much of the past 70 years, she was always packing to go to Dakota, or “help Willie plow the fields”. The farm days took forefront. She hated collecting eggs, and never got the hang of milking. She learned to drive on a tractor. Snow fell deep, to the bottom of the barn hay loft. Mrs Matthews let her call aluminum “that stuff” for an oral report because she stuttered. These were the things she could remember.
The one current thing that made her happy…..she was playing for the Seattle Mariners! “Gotta get ready for today’s game, I’m pitching”. She so did love her Mariners!
She is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Donald; daughter Tami Hastings and son-in-law Mark (her favorite son-in-law); son Scott; granddaughter Josilyn Clare, her husband Aaron and their 2 sweet boys, Owen and Colby, who she loved so very much; her grandson Micah Evans; beloved niece Jackie Evans; sister, Patricia Schnell, and so many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was a firecracker, and we miss her very much.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Cremation is being handled by Yahn and Son, Auburn WA and internment will be at Mountainview Cemetery in Auburn, WA.
