Marcus Lee Snow Jr.

Marcus Lee “Mark” Snow Jr. peacefully slipped from this life into eternal rest with Christ his Savior on Wednesday, January 17th, 2024. Mark, also known as “June” by his siblings and close cousins, was born on Friday, June 6, 1930 in Whittier, California. Mark was the sixth of nine children. The family moved often and Mark experienced life in Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, California and Washington. He often remarked that Hotchkiss, Colorado was one of his favorite places citing “the best apples you’ve ever tasted” as the reason.

Mark’s life was painted with many joys and sorrows. At the age of 4, he lost his beloved mother Cora Ethel (Hollingsworth) Snow, a loss that would leave an indelible mark on his soul. He would lay eyes on his future wife, Carma Omega Harvey, for the first time on the school bus, teasing her and telling her that she “was his girlfriend” and remarking to a friend “I’m going to marry that girl one day.” About the age of 14 or 15 the truck he was driving was involved in an accident severely injuring his father. Not a studious boy to begin with, he quit school after the 8th grade to help earn money for the family.

Mark worked many hard and laborious jobs throughout his adolescent and young adult years, jobs that included picking cotton, loading pulpwood on railcars, ranch hand and many more. The job that he was most proud of was working as a “Fireman” for the Great Northern Railroad at the age of 16.

Moving back to Oklahoma, Mark received his draft notice from the United States Army. He went to Army Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO., was trained as a Combat Engineer and was deployed to Korea. Mark finished his High School equivalency while in Basic Training and excelled in the Civil Engineering aspects of Combat Engineers training. Training that would have a profound impact on the rest of his life. It was during his time in Korea that he began corresponding with Carma.

Upon his discharge from the Army, Mark moved back to Oklahoma and soon after began dating Carma. They were wed on March 24th, 1955 and began a long marriage that endured until Mark’s passing. After working for others, Mark started his own Construction and Paving business in the mid 1970s. He continued as a self-employed dirt and paving contractor until his retirement. He never became wealthy, but managed to raise five children: Norma Denice, Darryl Keith, Terry Lynn, Marla Kay and Connie LeeAnn. His kids would often say that “Dad provided what we needed and sometimes what we wanted.”

After retiring from his construction business Mark worked as an escort driver and his knowledge of Oklahoma roads and highways served him well.

Mark and Carma were longtime members of Meadowood Baptist Church. Mark volunteered as a driver for Master’s Market where he would pick up grocery and food donations from participating Grocery Stores and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Mark enjoyed helping people, and served at Master’s Market for a number of years. When neighbors would have plumbing, carpentry or other home maintenance or automotive problems he would often take the time to assist them directly or loan them the tools to get the job done. Sometimes the tools were actually returned!

Mark was always good for a laugh and displayed a friendly demeanor. He enjoyed card and board games and having friends and family over for games and laughter. He loved organizing the Biennial Snow Family Reunion held at Regional Park or at the Midwest City Community Center. He enjoyed coaching little league baseball, men’s basketball and men’s slow pitch softball. In the fall of 1982 Mark actually played on a men’s slow pitch softball team along with his eldest son Darryl.

In his later years Mark began experiencing eyesight difficulties and macular degeneration would eventually render him legally blind. Dementia would further rob him of his mental faculties, complicating the care his children provided for him and Carma.

Mark was preceded in death by his mother Cora Ethel (Hollingsworth) Snow and father Marcus Lee Snow (Sr), brother Odell “Hoss” Snow and sister-in-law DeLois Snow, sister Elene “Snooks” (Snow) Ward and brother-in-law Alvin Ward, sister Verna Mae “Vernie” (Snow) Derdevanis and brother-in-law Peter Derdevanis, brother Arvel “Son” Snow and sister-in-law “Jack” Snow, brother Gaylon “Babe” Snow and sister-in-law Marlene Snow, sister Wilma Lee (Snow) Dudley, sister Durelle “Dood” (Snow) Clay-Speck and brother-in-law Boose Clay.

Mark is survived by his wife Carma Omega (Harvey) Snow of the home, daughter Norma Denice “Sis” Akers and son-in-law Mark Akers, son Darryl Keith “Bud” Snow and daughter-in-law Sarah I. “Sally” Snow, son Terry Lynn “Son” Snow, daughter Marla Kay “KK” Snow and daughter Connie LeeAnn “ConCon” Stanley and son-in-law Mickey Stanley.

Mark is also survived by numerous grandchildren: Samantha Denice (Akers) Smith and husband Col. Benjamin Smith (USAF), Bridget Nicole (Akers) Prieto and husband Chris Prieto, Jessica Lynn (Akers) Huffman and husband Bryan Eric Huffman, Erin Christanne Snow, Sean Edward Snow, Philip Mark Snow and wife Ainsley Ann (Bain) Snow, Ansley Faith Young, Michael David Graham, Morgan Nicole (Graham) Shaw and husband Brandon Shaw, Andrew Mark “Andy” Stanley, Amanda Kay Stanley, Megan LeeAnn Stanley.

And great grandchildren: Noah Eugene Smith, Eleanor Denice “Ellie” Smith, Jacob Lee “Jake” Smith, Coraline Joy “Cora” Smith, Hermione Jean Huffman, Uriah Francis Indiana “Indy” Huffman, Rohan Jude Huffman, Hudson Thomas Shaw and Emerson Lydia Shaw.

Mark is also survived by his youngest brother Delter Ray “Joe” Snow and wife Jackie Snow of Fresno, CA.

A very special and warm Thank You to the wonderful Nursing Staff at Integris SW for the kindness and tenderness with which they treated Mark during his hospital stay.

Our deepest love and gratitude is extended to the many family members and friends that have reached out to us to extend their sympathies and well wishes after Dad’s accident.

And finally, we Thank God for giving us these many years to know Dad and Mom, and try to return the love that they have lavished on us. Sincerely: Norma Darryl, Terry, Marla and Connie.

A visitation for Marcus will be held Thursday, January 25, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Sunny Lane Funeral Home, 4000 SE 29th Street, Del City, OK 73115. A funeral service will occur Friday, January 26, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Meadowood Baptist Church, 2816 N Woodcrest Dr, Midwest City, OK 73110. A burial will occur Friday, January 26, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Sunny Lane Funeral Home & Cemetery, 4000 SE 29th St, Del City, OK 73115.