Mary Lois Snow, age 88 of Purcell, went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, while surrounded by her family.
She was born March 23, 1929 in Aylesworth, Oklahoma, where now is Lake Texoma. She was the middle child of three children born to Joseph E. Johnston Harper and Elsie Mae (Hawkins) Harper. Mary was proud of her Chickasaw Indian heritage. She often shared how she was the direct descendent of Chief Tishomingo, and how her Indian ancestors came to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. Her great grandmother, her grandfather and her father were original enrollees of the Dawes Act. Prior to Oklahoma becoming a state, her father was allotted 160 acres nears Purcell. At the age of six years old her parents moved to that land near the Stealey Community, southwest of Purcell. There Mary grew up learning how to work hard in the cotton and broomcorn fields. Mary attended the Stealey country school where she learned to crochet and play the piano. She later attended Wayne High School where she met the star basketball player, Earnest Eugene Snow. He later turned down a basketball scholarship and they married June 25, 1949. Mary and Gene started their life in Oklahoma City and later moved back to Purcell. Together they raised four children, Dan, Tony, Cheryl and Regina. After Gene became an ordained minister in the Pentecostal Holiness Church, Mary was his church pianist for nearly 40 years. Mary loved the Lord and was a faithful Christian wife, mother and grandmother Throughout her life, Mary enjoyed sewing, quilting, crocheting and playing the piano. She also enjoyed fishing, camping, cooking, canning. In her later years, she and Gene enjoyed traveling, feeding and watching song birds in their back yard.
She was preceded in death by: Parents, Joseph and Elsie Harper; Husband, Gene Snow on Jan. 13, 2014; Sister, Laverne Beech; Grandson, Brandon Snow in 2007;
She is survived by: Four children, Dan Snow and wife Mona of Kingston, OK Tony Snow and wife Brenda of Noble, OK Cheryl Marsh and husband Gary of Katy, TX Regina Powers and husband Rodney of Purcell, OK; One brother, Douglas Joe Harper and wife Dorothy of MWC; Eight grandchildren, Jason Snow and wife Heather of Sparta, MO Kelly McCampbell and husband James of Harrah, OK Travis Snow of Norman, OK Stephen, Ryan and Rachael Marsh all of Katy, TX Matt Powers and wife Amanda of Purcell, Kyle Powers of Purcell, Six great grandchildren and one on the way. Also several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be 9:00 AM Monday, May 22, 2017 at Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel in Purcell.
Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell. send online condolences @www.wilsonlittle.com