Dorothy June Massman Snively

Dorothy June Massman Snively, 95, passed away on December 13, 2010 at WakeMed Hospital of Cary of pneumonia following several years of worsening dementia. Born on June 11, 1915 in Chicago, Illinois; she was the daughter of the late William F. Massmann and Julia Wittrock Massmann both who were also born in Chicago.

Dorothy is survived by her step-daughter: Sarah Craig Snively Lee Ferguson of Grandview, TN; and her step-son Craig Philip Snively and daughter-in-law Rev. Candace Foley Snively of Cary, NC; her niece Diane Massmann Jurach of Sacramento, CA; her sister-in-law Alda K. Massmann of Carmichael, CA; her niece Ellen Ekman Garlinghouse of Madison, WI; her nephew John Ekman of Bigfork, MT; plus many friends across the country. She also leaves five grandchildren: John David Lee of Grandview, TN, David Lee of Knoxville, TN; Allison Lee van Haren of Tucson, AZ; Robert Paul Snively of Gainesville, FL; and Stephen Craig Snively of Cary, NC; plus several great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband John Tarleton Snively of Bradenton, FL in 1990; her brother Bill Massmann of Dallas, TX; by her niece Carol Massmann Suggs of Fremont, CA in 2010; and by her son-in-law Perry Ferguson of Grandview, TN in 2010.

She attended the University of Illinois and had been executive secretary to the president of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (a Fortune 500 firm) before becoming a housewife. After marrying the widowed John Snively in May of 1951, they lived in Batavia, IL; Nashville, TN; Bethesda, MD; and after John’s retirement they lived in the golf and ski resort at Bayse, VA; a golf community in Sebring, FL; and a golf club community in Bradenton, FL. After John’s death and upon the onset of dementia, she moved into a senior independant living, a nursing home, and lastly a dementia community all near Cary, NC to be close to her son Craig and his wife Candy. The family wishes to thank Rex Rehab & Nursing Care of Apex for their wonderful and loving care they showed Dorothy for several years and to Clare Bridge of Cary for their care during her last months.

She was known for her involvement in the various communities whereever she lived; plus her famous parties, “boringly” straight golf drives, golf championships, and her hole-in-one.

Private Graveside Services will be held in the Spring of 2011 at Manasota Memorial Park in Bradenton, Florida. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Cary, 221 Union Street, Cary, NC 27511.

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