Wanda Jean Snider

Funeral service for Wanda Snider will be held 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 1, 2017 at the United Pentecostal Church of Chelsea. Burial will follow at Snider Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at the Chelsea Funeral Home, with family greeting friends from 5-8 p.m.

Wanda Jean Snider went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, November 26, 2017 at the age of 80, following a battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

The daughter of William and Lillie Herring Curtis, Wanda was born March 11, 1937 in Bloomer, Arkansas. She grew up in the town of Arkoma, Oklahoma, where she attended elementary school. Since Arkoma didn't have a high school, she later attended Spiro High School. She graduated there as Salutatorian of the class of 1955. Wanda enrolled at Northeastern State University, where she planned on becoming a home economics teacher. However, a weekend trip home with a friend from Chelsea would change everything. While attending a young people’s meeting at church, she met
E.J. Snider. The two began dating and married on October 27, 1956 in Arkoma. The newlywed couple made their home in Chelsea, on the Snider family farm. Later, Wanda decided that she and E.J. should get into the dairy business, and with that, Snider Dairy was formed.

Over the next 30 years, she worked on the dairy, as well as being homemaker for her family. Her life centered around family, church, and farming-related activities. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School classes for most of her adult life. Not fond of most jewelry, she enjoyed wearing her many beautiful pins given to her by those kids.

When Wanda wasn't working, she had many activities that she enjoyed. Cooking was an art and she fed her family delicious country home-cooking. Recipes developed by Wanda were used each year for the Assembly of God Church annual Thanksgiving Dinner fundraiser. For forty years or more, most of the town came to enjoy a delicious meal similar to the ones she fixed for her family daily. Wanda always had a huge garden where she raised and canned many vegetables for use throughout the year. She loved growing beautiful flowers and planted them among her vegetables as well as in the landscaping.

Farm life is always busy, but never boring. She loved animals and cared for all the smaller farm animals. Cats, chickens, geese, peacocks, baby goats, dairy calves, and Border Collie stock dogs were common. She wasn’t as fond of the orphan animals her kids sometimes kept in the house while growing big enough to survive outside. Through the years, an injured baby duck, runt pigs, baby squirrels, raccoons, and tiny skunks were among the creatures living in the back porch zoo.

On the rare occasion when she stopped to rest, she might be found reading poetry, cookbooks, or storybooks for grandkids.

After selling the dairy herd, there was time for traveling. With the purchase of an RV, she visited all the states but North Dakota. Wanda loved the trip she took to the Holy Land. Besides her family, singing was one of her greatest enjoyments. Throughout her life, Wanda possessed one of the greatest alto voices around. Locally it all started with her and E.J. singing at church. A short time later they were joined by Gladys Terry and a trio was formed. At times a bass singer joined the group and made it a quartet. For many years, they were asked to sing in local churches and at many community gatherings. Wanda was able to enjoy this singing gift until just a few months ago.

Wanda is preceded in death by her parents, William and Lilly Curtis; infant son, Philip Wayne Snider; brother, Charles Curtis, and sisters, Frances Curtis and Leta Mae Webb.

Survivors include her husband E.J. of the home; children, Donna Pregler and husband Steve, Stanley Snider and wife Gretchen, all of Chelsea, and Jeanetta Shepherd and husband Mike of Duluth, Georgia; grandchildren, Lacy Darden, Louis Pregler, Maria Snider, Laura Snider, Kendra Jackson, and Kurt Shepherd; brother, Carroll Curtis; sister, Wilma Curtis and nieces, nephews, and extended family.

View and sign Wanda's online memorial at www.mmsfuneralhomes.com