Forest “Junior” Snyder, 89, passed away Saturday, August 23, 2014, at Sunrise of Lenexa Senior Living.
Forest was born July 14, 1925, on a farm in rural Republic County, KS, to Forest Nelson Snyder (1897 - 1933) and Martha Faye (Cardwell) Snyder (1901 - 1977). After his father’s death, his family moved to the city of Belleville, KS, in 1934. He worked on area farms through high school, graduating in 1943. Forest joined the US Navy in December 1943 and spent two years in the South Pacific as a Signalmen Second Class and was discharged in December 1946. He studied Civil Engineering at the University of Kansas from 1947-1949. Forest married Phyllis Elizabeth Dunakin and moved to the Merriam/Overland Park area in 1952. He worked for Black and Veatch for 36 years. Forest married Mary Sue Paddock on November 28, 1981. He enjoyed his house at Lake of the Ozarks, spending time with family and enjoyed working on projects and chores.
He was preceded in death by his six siblings, Flora E. Hickman (1919 - 1990), Alice C. Snyder (1920 - 1995), James Nelson Snyder (1922 - 1990), Donald Eugene Snyder (1928 - 1995), Betty Faye (Snyder) McCollum (1930 - 2011), and Walter Lee Snyder (1933 - 2009).
Forest is survived by his wife, Mary Sue “Suzie” Snyder; five children, Gary D. Snyder, Ronald W. Snyder, Martha J. Snyder, Linda L. Snyder, and Robert A. Snyder; three step-children, Curtis Paddock, Steven Paddock, and Cathy Barnett; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 29, 2014, at the Johnson County Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66210.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made on his behalf to the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.