Mary Estelle Snyder

Mary Estelle Snyder, aged 79 years, of Fort Collins, Colorado has passed away peacefully, surrounded by friends and family, and moved on to join God’s choir on Wednesday, July 9th, 2014. She resided in Fort Collins from 1967 to present.

An upbeat celebration of her life will be held at 10 A.M. on July 16th at First United Methodist church on Elizabeth and Stover, with the Reverend Steven Easterday-McPadden officiating. A visitation will be held at Allnutt funeral home from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday, July 15th. Mary’s remains will be cremated.

Mary Estelle Gardner was born on October 23, 1934, in Washington, D.C. Her father was Byron Thomas Gardner and her mother Florence Eleanor Chaney. Her family lived for a time in in Jackson Heights, New York. She attended high school in Ridgewood, New Jersey, graduating in 1952. She went to college at the University of Cincinnati where she met Earl. On July 17, 1967, Mary married Earl Wm. Snyder. They lived in Middletown, Ohio, and New Jersey before moving to Fort Collins, Colorado. She received a Masters degree magna cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in business administration.

She worked as a research accountant with Lybrand, Ross Bros. and Montgomery in New York City. In Fort Collins she worked at Colorado State University as an internal auditor.

Mary Snyder was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority. She participated in the Phi Omega Epsilon honor society at Fairleigh Dickinson. She was a member and former president of the Colorado Mountain Club. She enjoyed hiking, camping, fishing, rock-collecting and trail-blazing. Mary played the piano, autoharp and glockenspiel. She was an avid book reader and did embroidery. Mary played flag-football in college. She became interested in genealogy during a trip to England. Mary was part of a melodrama acting group located in Crystal Lakes and Red Feather called Mountain Productions. She was a member of the Fort Collins Lions Club. She enjoyed being in the Fort Collins Opera chorus. Mary was a member of First United Methodist church where she attended Disciple classes, became a lay speaker, sang in the choir and made many friends. She liked being hugged and dancing—things you can do with people you love.

Mary is survived by her daughter Tamara Baeighkley, her brother Thomas Gardner and sister Ellen Gardner, and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Earl Snyder, and her brother Herbert Gardner.

Memorial contributions may be sent in lieu of flowers to the First United Methodist Church’s music program or to the Colorado State University library.