Elizabeth Ann Snyder

Elizabeth Ann (Benson) Snyder passed away on February 29, 2024. She was born June 10, 1931 in Loco, Oklahoma. She grew up in Loco, in Stephens County, where her parents owned a filling station and laundromat. A week after Pearl Harbor, in 1941, her father died of tuberculosis. A single mother with four kids to raise, her mother ran for County Clerk of Stephens County and won. “Ann,” as she was known to family and friends, even made campaign speeches on the stump to help her mother gain votes. With the victory, the family moved to Duncan, Oklahoma, the county seat. Her mother would go on to be re-elected and serve Stephens County for the next 37 years. Ann graduated at the top of her class at Duncan High School in 1949. Her high school years were full of recognition and accomplishment, culminating in her being selected President of the State of Oklahoma Association of High School Student Councils. It was only natural for her to continue her education. Ann wisely chose Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Stillwater, OK (now Oklahoma State University). As a freshman, on a blind date at the traditional “Howdy Dance,” she met her future husband, Von Lee Snyder. Von finished his 2-year technical degree and then was drafted into the army and sent to Korea in 1952. They kept their relationship going by writing letters to each other. Ann graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1953, the first in her family to attain a college degree. While Von was in Korea, Ann stayed in Stillwater and worked in the Office of the Bursar of Oklahoma A&M. On January 22, 1956, Von and Ann were married. They made their home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma where Von worked for National Zinc Company for 10 years and then Phillips Petroleum Company for over 25 years. Ann worked at Phillips Petroleum Company. Ann quit work to have 3 children. In 1977, with her oldest in college and her youngest finishing 6th grade, Ann took a job at Metal Goods Manufacturing Company in Bartlesville, a small company known for making premium oil tank gauges for the oil industry across the globe. She retired as the company treasurer in 1992. Ann, with her husband Von, was a member of First Church in Bartlesville for over 66 years. Ann and her husband, Von, enjoyed retirement by traveling all over the United States with camping friends and relatives. During these fun and active years, Ann enjoyed the Methodist Family Campers, Mutual Girls Club Tuesday House (now Heart Matters) and served as Board Chair. At Tuesday House, she worked the register, made deposits, and specialized in stocking and maintaining the jewelry department. She and Von also served as Treasurer of the Cherokee Chapter of the Green Country Clock Club for many years. In her retirement, Ann also worked hard to perfect her art of making cookies. She loved cookies of all kinds, especially with her favorite beverage, coffee. When husband Von embarked on a hunting or fishing trip, he was fortified with a batch of fresh cookies, always enough to share. This became a popular tradition and almost expected by uncles and cousins on the expeditions. Her cookies became part of family lore. Ann is survived by: daughter, Sandra Dickey of Oklahoma City, OK; son, Chris Snyder and wife Phebe of Broken Arrow, OK; and daughter, Sharon LeStourgeon and husband Deron of Canyon Lake, TX. A sister-in-law, Jo Woolery of Oklahoma City, OK; 3 nephews: Roger Woolery and wife Gloria of Oklahoma City, OK., Rick Woolery of Basalt, CO., and Tim Woolery and wife Colleen of Oklahoma City, OK; and a niece, Melanie Ann Croy of Shawnee, OK. Ann had 5 grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Ben Dickey and wife Katie and 3 children of Oklahoma City, OK; Matt Dickey and wife Kayla and 2 children of Oklahoma City, OK; Megan Hammond and husband, Ryan with a future great grandchild (due very soon) of Tucson, AZ; Maggie LeStourgeon of Dallas, TX; and Lily LeStourgeon of Baton Rouge, LA. A celebration of life and funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at First Church in Bartlesville at 2:00pm. Stumpff Funeral Home in Bartlesville is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for friends to support Heart Matters, Bartlesville.

Elizabeth Ann Snyder

June 10, 1931 - February 29, 2024