J. Yvonne Snyder Pickel

Feb. 2, 1937-Sept. 25, 2004

ALMA -- Jessie Yvonne Snyder Pickel, 67, died Saturday (Sept. 25, 2004) in Alma.

She was born Feb. 2, 1937, to Frank Dee and Mary Dena (Goodwin) Russell in Wellfleet. She grew up in Lincoln County and attended schools in Wallace. She graduated from the eight grade in Grainton. She then attended Wallace High School in 1954. She then attend Kearney State Teachers College where she received her certificate in elementary education. In 1956, she came to Harlan County and taught in the Huntley Public Schools for two years.

On Aug. 12, 1957, she married Laverne Robert Snyder at the Methodist Church in Wallace. They lived on a farm north of Alma until 1958, when they moved to a farm northwest of Alma. They moved to their present home in Alma in October 1996. She returned to teaching in 1970 and taught until 2003. Her husband preceded her in death on March 23, 1997.

On Feb. 19, 2000, she married Edward Culhun Pickel Jr., at the Methodist Church in Alma.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Alma and taught Sunday school for many years. She also served on various committees in the church and was a chairman of education for four years. She was active in the UMW, where she served as president for six years and was co-president for four years. She served as Ruth Circle Chairman for four years and was secretary for two years. She was a Sunday school chairman for five years and in 2000, she received her 50-year pin in the Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Good Cheer Club. She was Harlan County Bazaar Chairman and Co-chairman for 10 years and she helped with the bloodmobile. She was a 4-H leader for 20 years and chartered two 4-H Clubs Butterfingers and Sugar 'N Spice. She was a member of the Bowling Association since 1965 and served as league secretary, president and vice president. She was also a member of the bridge club and pinochle club.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her father in 1980 and her mother 1982; and two grandchildren, Robin and Chris Ruf.

Survivors include her husband, Ed; two daughters, Brenda Ruf and husband, Randy of Cambridge and Janus Stenka and husband, Kurt of Wahoo; two sons, David Snyder and wife, Kim of Aurora, Colo., and Jay Snyder of Denver, Colo; one step-son, Ronald Pickel and wife, Cindy of Elm Creek; one step-daughter, Brenda Stewart and husband, Dennis of Bullet, Kan.; three brothers, Kenneth Russell and wife, Patricia of New Berlin, Wit., Leonard Russell and wife, Teresa of Lake McConaughy and Donald Lee Russell and wife, Nancy of Wichita, Kan.; two sisters, June Jackson and husband, Al of Palm Coast, Fla., and Cynthia Kay Laubner and husband, Jerry of Hershey; seven grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.

Services are Tuesday, 10 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Alma with the Rev. Bracken Sheldon officiating. Interment will be in Orleans Cemetery in Orleans.

Visitation is today until 9 p.m., at Banta-Torrey Funeral Home and before services at the church.

Memorials may be given to the Methodist Church Building Fund or to the Senior Center Bingo Fund.

Banta-Torrey Funeral Home of Alma is in charge of the arrangements.