Mary Snyder Ashbrook

Heaven gained an ornery angel on February 20, 2024. Mary Snyder Ashbrook was born August 2nd, 1932, in Alexandria, Ohio, the fourth of five children to Raymond and Essie Coakley. She grew up there with her sisters, Margaret and Kathryn, and brothers, James and Charles. They were a close knit, loving family, which is a good thing, considering there were seven distinctive personalities residing in the house. Love of family always remained important to her throughout her life.

If you can find true love once in this life, you are very blessed. Mary actually found it twice. She married William H. Snyder on July 10, 1954 and their beautiful journey together lasted over

46 years, until his death in 2000. They raised their children, Linda, Mark and Chris, in North Canton, Ohio. As she continued along life's journey, she had the great fortune of reconnecting with her childhood sweetheart, Paul Ashbrook. They were married on January 30, 2015 and enjoyed over seven amazing years together, until he graduated to glory in 2022.

Although she gladly shared her life with her true loves, Mary was also fiercely independent. She was okay with being alone and still driving at the age of 91. Anyone who knew her would marvel at how well she took care of and managed herself during good times and bad. A dear family friend recently described her as a "sweatheart and a pistol", which seems fairly apropos.

Mary may have been independent but she was still a loving parent to her daughter, Linda, and sons, Mark and Chris. She took a great deal of pride in their accomplishments and could be seen at countless youth and high school athletic contests and music concerts. This pride also extended to her childrens's spouses, Roger, Kim and Gretchen. Her grandchildren were the apples of her eye and she loved each one of them dearly, including Joshua, Jason, Ben, Jenna, Rachel, Craig, Jake and Kelly. She considered herself extremely fortunate to experience nine great grandchildren.

In addition to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, Mary loved holding court with her nieces and nephews, especially during reunions at Parker Community Park, in Alexandria.

She would regale them with her stories, a skill she honed under the tutelage of her father, Raymond. This would continue into the parking lot at reunion's end, where another hour would pass prior to departure. One of the wisdoms she bestowed upon them was to just take things one day at a time and to enjoy life's simple pleasures. Hers were Heggy's Peanut Clusters, nature hikes, backyard games and attempting to ice skate in the backyard.

As can be seen, Mary had a tremendous impact on countless people. Nothing demonstrates this more than her many years of serving children at the North Canton Junior High cafeteria, where she was affectionately referred to as the lunch lady. She touched so many lives while working there and if students forgot their lunch money, she always made sure to pay for their lunch that day.

As everyone knows, she had a love of sports, especially her Buckeyes. Mary would say that life is an adventure, as evidenced by her moving to Washington with Paul, in her mid-eighties. She also enjoyed traveling around the United States with Bill. She loved her trips to Montana to visit her brother Charlie and his wife Sue.

Viewing the majestic mountains out West was a gift from God to her and her faith in the Lord blossomed under to guidance of Paul. Another individual who was always there for her in life's journey was Ethelene Coakley, a dear friend and sister-in-law. Even though her earthly life is over, if you feel a little bit ornery some time, know that Mary is nearby.

A celebration of her life will be held at Parker Community Park in Alexandria, Ohio on Saturday, August 3, 2024, beginning at noon.