Leatha Snyder

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Leatha E. Snyder, 87 of Sedro-Woolley passed away peacefully on June 13, 2012.  She was born in Killarney, WV on January 21, 1925 to Milton and Ella (Price) Osborne.

Leatha lived her early childhood in the southeastern states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, then travelled with her mother, brother Joe and sister Carol by bus to Sedro-Woolley in 1939 to join her father and brothers who were then living and logging in and around Rockport.  Leatha lived with her family on her father’s homestead south of Rockport on the Sauk River without electricity or running water.  She walked more than two miles each way to Rockport for school every day, rain or shine.

Leatha married John Snyder on November 1, 1941 and they made their home in an adjacent building on her father’s homestead.  They soon moved to Rockport and purchased a small home where they raised a family of their own.  Along with providing a warm, loving and Christian home for her children and ever the lady Leatha, would also assist her husband John by operating a D-4 Caterpillar or whatever else was needed during the course of his logging career.

Leatha was active in the Marblemount Assembly of God Church for over 35 years. Later in life, after her three children were grown, Leatha attended Beautician’s School in Mount Vernon and subsequently opened her own Beauty Shop in the Rockport Post Office building.  She also worked at Bradley’s Resort on Ross Lake, Ernie Greens Restaurant in Marblemount, Mount Baker Hotel and Café in Concrete, Riverside Restaurant in Rockport and was instrumental in the genesis and success of daughter Reba’s Iron Skillet Restaurant in Sedro-Woolley.

After the death of her husband John of 46 years, Leatha moved to Sedro-Woolley to be closer to her family.  She then met Larry Meyer, her companion of 10 years and together, they travelled extensively and wintered in Arizona until his death in 2009.  Leatha was such a strong and beautiful lady, and everyone who knew her could sense her strength and love.  Although suffering from painful and debilitating  arthritis for years, she took great joy in having her nails done and one would never see her in or around town without her hair perfectly coiffed.  She commanded such respect from her children that even until this day, they would not smoke, drink or cuss in her presence, and anyone that knows her daughter Reba, can appreciate what an accomplishment that is!

Leatha was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ella Osborne; brothers, Owen, Joe and Ray Osborne; husband, John Snyder; Great-grandson, Cody Marks and companion, Larry Meyer.

She will be sorely missed by those who loved and survive her; her son, Don (Duke) Snyder and wife, Jan, daughter, Reba Sines; son, Ken Snyder and wife Judith, brother Chet Osborne and wife Arlene of Leggett, CA and sister, Carol Tingley of Mount Vernon, WA.

8 Grandchildren, Dawnette Snyder, Kristy Kaaland, John Snyder, Heidi Sines of Sedro- Woolley, WA, Toni Marks, Kage Snyder of Las Vegas, NV, Ken Snyder of Reno, NV, and Jennifer Little of Woodbridge, VA; 14 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren;  Special nephew Art Osborne of Sedro Woolley, Sue and Dave Becker of Texas, Terry and Kathy Meyer of Mukilteo, WA. and numerous other nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.  Share  memories of Leatha and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com.

The family of Leatha Snyder would like to especially thank the fine doctors and staff of the Skagit Valley Hospital Critical Care Unit (CCU) and the Mount Vernon Kidney Center for their compassionate and professional care.

You can shed tears because she is gone….

Or you can smile, because she has lived……..

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back…..

Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left…….

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her….

Or you can be full of the love that you shared……..

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday…..

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday…

You can remember her, and only that she is gone………

Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on……

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back….

Or you can do what she would want….smile, open your eyes, love and go on.