Mollie Beth (Mitchell) Snyder

Mollie Beth Snyder born August 22, 1931, to Lewis H. and Belle M. (Hoffar) Mitchell in McAlester, Oklahoma. She passed away December 20, 2021, at her home.

She attended public school and graduated from McAlester High School in 1949. She worked at a drug store during her four years of high school.

Mollie Mitchell married her high school sweetheart, Michael C. Bailey, in 1949, and gave birth to a son in 1950 and daughter, Alice in 1951. She worked at Seamproof, a lingerie factory, and for J.C. Penney’s while her children were very young, and her mother babysat them. Her husband, Michael worked for the MKT Railroad; and was transferred to Denison, Texas; we moved and were close to Southeastern State University in Durant, Oklahoma. Mollie enrolled and began her college studies in the fall of 1957. Her husband finished his degree in science in 1960; he had two years when we moved to Southeastern.

Mollie finished her bachelor’s degree in 33 months. During her undergraduate work, she was named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. She took her first teaching position teaching English in 1960 in Cushing, Oklahoma. We moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico after one year in Cushing. Finishing her Master’s in English in 1963 by going to school at nights and during the summer. Her husband, Michael died of coronary heart disease in 1966 at the age of 37.

In 1970, she was offered a full fellowship to earn her Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico. She taught one year at UNM after I finished my doctorate and took a position at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana in 1973 and taught there until 1983.

Mollie married Jack F. Snyder in 1982.

Mollie took a teaching position in Moriarty, NM after returning from Indiana. She later became Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and later was named Associate Superintendent. After her retirement, she started her own tutoring service in her home until they moved to Wray.

Memorial services will be held later. Cremation was requested. Mollie's wish was for Memorials to be made to Hospice of the Plains or Friends of the Library.

Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.