1936
E.J.
2024
E.J. Snider
October 11, 1936 — May 2, 2024
Chelsea
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 2 pm at Watova Full Gospel Christian Center in Nowata, OK. Burial will follow at Snider Cemetery in Chelsea. Visitation will be at Chelsea Funeral Home on Friday, May 10, 2024 from 1-8 pm.
Edwin Jay Snider went to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at the age of 87. EJ, as he was known, was born October 11, 1936, in Chelsea, OK, to his parents Walton Isaac and Laura Jackson Snider. He was born in the family home on a farm that was started by his grandmother in 1889.
EJ graduated from Chelsea High School in 1954. He attended college one semester at NEO A&M, then returned home to run the family farm due to his father’s failing health and death on March 9, 1956. His mother soon died of cancer on June 4, 1958.
On October 27, 1956 he married Wanda Jean Curtis in Arkoma. They met when her NSU college roommate brought her to Chelsea to attend a weekend youth service at her church. After marrying, he was awarded the American Farmer Award in 1957, at age twenty-one. EJ and Wanda lived and worked on the family farm and had four children: Donna Kaye, Stanley Lynn, Jeanetta Rae, and Philip Wayne, who passed away at the age of three months.
EJ and Wanda started a dairy in 1965. He did a large amount of custom hay baling in addition to his own work on the farm. Following a back surgery, EJ brought the first large round bales to this part of the country. He built a silo and raised silage crops to feed the dairy cattle with less physical labor.
Through the years, EJ was chosen Rogers County Cattleman of the Year and the family was Rogers County Farm Family of the Year in 1975. He hosted a young man on a Chinese Farmer Exchange Program and had short-term visitors from foreign countries of Africa, the Philippines, and the Netherlands.
EJ faithfully attended Chelsea Assembly of God Church most of his life, where he was Sunday School Superintendent for over forty years. He played the clarinet in church, and also was part of a gospel quartet with Wanda for many years. In later years, he attended Watova Full Gospel Christian Center in Nowata, and House of Prayer Holiness Church near Foyil.
He had a love for gospel music and playing the clarinet, which he started learning at age eleven. EJ and Wanda also loved to travel and enjoyed trips including Israel, Panama Canal Zone, and Hawaii. Draft horses were a large part of his life, as well. He had several wagons and teams of horses. Taking the horse drawn wagons to local parades and events provided much joy for him and all involved.
EJ was active in the community and state and served on several boards including: Rogers County Farm Bureau, Chelsea School Board, Associated Milk Producers Incorporated, Farm Services Agency, Mayes County Water District 5, Bank of Commerce Advisory Board, church deacon board, and Resource Conservation & Development.
EJ was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Wanda, his parents Walton and Laura Snider, and infant son Philip.
He is survived by his daughter Donna and husband Steve Pregler, son Stanley and wife Gretchen, daughter Jeanetta and husband Mike Shepherd. Grandchildren Lacy Pregler Darden, Louis Pregler, Maria Snider, and Laura Snider of Oklahoma, and Kendra Shepherd Jackson and Kurt Shepherd of Georgia. Great-grandchildren include Samuel and Rainn Darden, Kimber and Grant Pregler, all of Oklahoma. Other Great-grandchildren reside in Georgia.
In lieu of flowers if you choose, donations may be made to youth groups at: House of Prayer Holiness Church 14101 South Hwy 66, Claremore, OK 74017 or Full Gospel Christian Center Rt. 2 Box 130, Nowata, OK 74048.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of E.J. Snider, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Friday, May 10, 2024
1:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)
Chelsea Funeral Home
Family will Greet Friends
Friday, May 10, 2024
6:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)
Chelsea Funeral Home
Funeral Service
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)
Full Gospel Christian Center
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