Myrtle (Smith) Snyder, 81, beloved wife of Wadell Snyder passed away on November 22, 2014.
Myrtle was born to Lewis and Harriet Smith in 1933, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the oldest of four children. She graduated from John Hay High School in Cleveland. She attended Kent State University, originally as an art major, but later switched to education and received her BA in Education. During her time as a student at Kent State, Myrtle was initiated as a life-long member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Initially, Myrtle taught in the Cleveland Publics Schools. She later became a reading/social skills instructor with the Job Corps in Cleveland and then moved with Wadell to the Tongue Point Job Corps Center in Astoria, Oregon where Wadell became the Associate Director and Myrtle became the Ombudsman for the Center and was a Reading Instructor for the learning disabled at Clatsop Community College. Somewhere during these busy days, they also found the time to raise three children. Myrtle and Wadell later moved to Eugene, Oregon and Myrtle became the first ever, African-American woman to hold the position of Area Reading Convener/Education Specialist. She was responsible for the district’s reading program, which at that time contained 11 elementary schools, 2 junior high schools and a senior high school. She also established a program for gifted students in several of the schools. While working full time in Eugene, Myrtle also went to college and received her Master’s degree from the University of Oregon. After residing in Oregon from 1968 to 1975, the Snyder family moved to Ellensburg, Washington where Wadell became the Director of Personnel for Central Washington University and Myrtle was hired as the Reading Teacher/Supervisor with the Ellensburg Public School System. She held that position until she was hired as the Washington State Reading Supervisor. Myrtle was again, the first African-American woman to hold the position in the state. Myrtle later went to work for the University of Central Washington in Ellensburg, where she held several positions including Special Education Instructor, Director/Designer for the HELDS Project and Educational Disabilities Consultant. In 1987, Myrtle and Wadell went on a great adventure and moved to Alaska. While exploring the great tundra, they resided in both Juneau and Anchorage. Myrtle held several positions with the Juneau Public School system and was Adjunct Instructor for the University of Alaska Southeast. After several years, Myrtle and Wadell decided to move back to the lower 48 and settled on Olympia, Washington in 1998. Myrtle worked for the Puget Sound Community College as an Adjunct Reading Instructor before retirement in 2002. Myrtle was a lifelong educator and advocate for people with disabilities. She authored many publications that dealt with special education as well as serving as a consultant/trainer in school districts throughout the United States. Her commitment, passion and the respect for her expertise in special education earned her national recognition and a position on the Governor’s Council for the Disabled in both the states of Alaska and Washington. Myrtle didn’t just work all the time. She was passionate about art, both creating and collecting as well as a devoted wife and mother. She enjoyed going to the movies with Wadell and reading science fiction books and science magazines. She loved watching Star Trek on TV. Myrtle also enjoyed playing bridge and shopping, especially finding treasures at garage sales. Despite a busy and full life, Myrtle and Wadell made the time to explore many of the Northwest's iconic places and became true North westerners. They enjoyed living in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Myrtle is survived by Wadell Snyder, her husband of 58 years, children; Rinee Merritt (Todd), Wadell Snyder Jr. and Sher Begay, brother Lewis C. Smith II and sisters Janice S. McNair (Clarence) Evelyn Hardy (Ronald), and grandchildren Bunny Begay, Tia Begay, Tashina Begay- Martinez, (Andres) and Rhandall Wagner. Myrtle was very much loved and will be missed by all whose heart she touched. |