Samuel Morris Snyder, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, went home to the Lord on March 4, 2020. Sam was born in Bernice, OK to Ben and Charlcie Snyder. He was raised in Jay, Oklahoma, where he graduated in the class of 1954. Sam joined the US Air Force in 1956, and loved to relay stories about his days in Thule, Greenland. While in the Air Force, Sam attended school at Santa Maria College in California and later attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he was a legendary prankster while receiving his degree in Industrial Arts Education. After graduation, Sam received an offer he couldn’t refuse to work as an insurance adjuster for General Adjustment Bureau (GAB), citing the coveted perk of a company car.
After moving to McAlester, Oklahoma with GAB, Sam met the love of his life, Molly Grantham. She would become is bride in 1966. The couple moved to Hugo, Tulsa and back to McAlester, where they raised their 4 children at the family home Sam built, just west of town. Sam then joined the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance team, where he was a Senior All Lines Adjuster, was named Adjuster of the Year 3 times and ultimately retired after 25 years. Sam was a devoted husband and father who worked hard, could fix anything, and had a joke for every situation. He kept his family well provided for and laughing through family road trips, hosting holidays, Sunday meals after church and Saturday afternoons where his kids still joke about having to “pick up sticks” in the yard. Sam was an active member of the Main and Oklahoma Church of Christ, was proud to be a Boy Scout leader and supporter of Camp Tom Hale, served on the Haywood School Board and on the Rural Water board. Sam never met a stranger, a broken item he couldn’t fix, and was always ready to offer help to anyone in need. Sam and Molly moved to Oklahoma City in 2014 to be near their children and grandchildren for care and support while Sam was living with Alzheimer’s.
Sam is survived by his wife of 54 years, Molly; his children, Kimbal Snyder; Rhea Ann Lee and her husband, Fred; Samantha Roberts and her husband, Clide; Mary Beth Henson and her husband, Craig. Also, his grandchildren, Molly Patterson, Lucy Lee, Rebecca Lee, Grace Roberts, Cale Roberts and Ragen Roberts. He is also survived by his sister and brother in law, Joyce and Ed Hill, and a brother, Harold Snyder, all of Tulsa; brother in law, Virgil Grantham of OKC, Cap and Martha Grantham of McAlester and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Charlcie Snyder; parents in law, Jack and Mamie Grantham, sister in law, Jolene Grantham, brother and sister in law, Perry and Jackie McBroom, and nephew Douglas Stovall. Special thanks to Frontier Hospice, and caregiver angel, Sharon King.
For those wishing to pay tribute, donations can be made to his long time church home, Main and Oklahoma Church of Christ, 1700 South Main St., McAlester, OK 74501.
A Celebration of life will be 11:00 am, Monday, March 9, 2020 in the chapel of Buchanan Funeral Service.
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