Floyd G. Snyder, formerly of Weippe
Floyd Gordon Snyder, formerly of Weippe, passed away Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at St. Joseph regional Medical Center in Lewiston, after battling a long and extended illness.
Floyd was born to Denver and Sylvia Teed Snyder at the family home on the Weippe Prairie May 20, 1924. He was a fun-loving and mischievous boy who was raised in a family of eight children – five boys and three girls. Floyd was 8 years old when his father passed away, and his mother passed away when he was 11 years old. The close-knit family of children managed to stay together with the help of their grandmother, Lillian Teed.
During those years, Floyd was educated in the Weippe schools. When he was 14 years old and a freshman in high school, he worked nights in a lumber mill on a green chain and went to school by day. Floyd was a proud member of Weippe’s first six-man football team and the school’s basketball team.
Floyd married his high school sweetheart on May 27, 1944. During their years together, Floyd worked on their ranch to develop a herd of Hereford cattle. He also worked for 20 years in the logging industry for Frank Fromelt, after which he continued working for various other logging operations. In off-seasons, he worked at various locations as an operating engineer through the Operating Engineer’s Local 370, running heavy equipment. In 1973, the couple sold their ranch and moved to Weippe, where they still own their home.
Floyd loved basketball. He attended referee classes and served as a referee for high school games. He also played for several years on Weippe and Pierce town teams. For three years, he coached basketball for a group of boys from their fifth-grade year through eighth grade. This group of boys later went on to win the state championship in their league. Floyd was really proud of the boys’ accomplishment.
Floyd enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing, team roping, going to auction sales and serving as a livestock project 4-H leader. He never knew a stranger and he always enjoyed visiting with other people. He also enjoyed listening to music provided by family members. Family was very important to Floyd.
Surviving Floyd is his wife of 67 years; his daughter and son-in-law; three grandchildren, a granddaughter-in-law, and one great-grandchild; two sisters and a brother-in-law; numerous nieces, one nephew and numerous cousins. Floyd was preceded in death by his son, Roger Snyder; his parents; his brothers, Robert, Bert, Ellis and Louie; and his sister, Mary.
The family would like to sincerely thank the doctors, nurses and caregivers who provided Floyd care during his long illness. A special thanks to his doctor of many years.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Pine Hills Funeral Chapel in Orofino. A graveside service will take place at the Weippe Cemetery, followed by a covered-dish dinner at the White Pine Rebekah Lodge in Weippe.
The Lewiston Tribune, July 23, 2011, p. 11A
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock