Mary Edith (Snyder) Willard of Carthage, Missouri was born the 9th of 11 children to Ira and Lena Snyder on November 22, 1933, at her parents’ farm, eight miles east of Carthage. Edith crossed over into the arms of Jesus in the early evening of September 9, 2023. Edith loved country life. Growing up during the Great Depression, the family lived together in a small two-bedroom house where she discovered her life-long passion for fishing and learned the value of making do with what you have, saving for the future, and sharing what you have with those in need.
Attending Center Point Christian Church every Sunday, Edith developed a deep and abiding faith that sustained her throughout her life. As a child, one of her chores was helping pull weeds and tending to her mother’s garden and as an adult, Edith ALWAYS had a garden going and could be found planting, weeding, harvesting and “putting up” a wide variety of bounty. She loved her garden.
She attended the Arthur School, a short two-mile walk from the family farm, through the 8th grade and graduated from Sarcoxie High School in 1951. After high school, Edith lived on her own in an apartment in Carthage and worked at KDMO, the local radio station, through the week. But she could usually be found back home, on the family farm, most weekends and attending church with the family.
Her beloved husband, Kermit, entered her life in late 1953 while he was home on leave from the Navy and visiting his family. Theirs was a whirlwind, long-distance romance that stood the test of time. They wed on June 7, 1954, and moved immediately to Virginia Beach, Virginia. Edith loved the ocean and was excited to start her life with Kermit, traveling the world as a Navy wife. But things changed when Kermit was discharged with a medical condition that would change the course of both their lives. Returning to Carthage, they settled in and started their family. Though they moved around the Midwest a bit early on, they finally settled into the house where Edith’s father was born, and this became the family’s center for the remaining years of her life.
Edith was always an active member of whatever church was closest to the family home, and for most of her adult life, that was Center Point. If the doors were open, Edith could be found there, worshiping, and helping with whatever needed doing. She held a number of jobs throughout her early years, but as Kermit’s health deteriorated, her focus shifted to caring for him and her formal work ceased. This didn’t stop her volunteer activities, however. When the kids were little, she served as a Cub Scout Den Leader for Jeff and was an active adult leader with the 4H for many years for both kids. Later, she was active in the Women’s Auxiliary of the local Disabled American Veterans Association, the Jasper County Extension, Meals on Wheels, and the Carthage Crisis Center. And, while God and family were her first loves, fishing and bowling were close seconds. Anyone itching to wet a hook could always find a ready companion with Edith, no notice required!
Edith was one of the humblest people God placed on this earth. She would never put herself first, never boast about any of her own accomplishments and rarely let anyone know if she had a need she couldn’t meet or task with which she needed help. It wasn’t in her to ask for anything. She lived a life of service. Service to God, first and foremost, and then service to others. It didn’t matter what the need was, if Edith could help meet it, she would. Though she was always busy, you would be hard-pressed to hear from her a single personal victory or accomplishment. She was a quiet doer and talking about herself just wasn’t in her DNA. Nor were completing any of the “stories from grandma” books that her kids gave her over the years. She just didn’t like to talk about herself.
Dementia started to take Edith in early 2021 and the family made the difficult decision to move her in with Jeff and Sally in August of that year and they were blessed to be able to be with her for her remaining days. As she was able, she participated in the church’s women’s Bible study, and gained new friends at the church home group meetings. She went frequently to the local Senior Activity Center where she played cards, bingo, and ate lunch.
Edith was preceded in death by her parents, six brothers, four sisters, her granddaughter, Dorothy and her beloved husband, Kermit.
She is survived by her children, Jeff Willard (Sally), Van Buren, Arkansas and Judy Glennon, Harker Heights, Texas; seven grandchildren, Alicia Hanson (Chris), Adam Willard (Lora), Quentin Willard, Ben Willard (Lacie), Mary Drolet (Nico), Matt Glennon, and Sean Glennon; and three great grandchildren, Matimu, David, and Dean. She is also survived by her brother Levi Snyder (Catherine), sister-in-law Carol Snyder and generations of nieces, nephews, and friends far and wide.
Services for Edith will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 15, 2023, at Center Pointe Christian Church in Carthage, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 14, 2023, at Ulmer Funeral Home in Carthage. Burial will be at Fasken Cemetery in Carthage.
Contributions may be made to Arthur Cemetery in care of Ulmer Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made on www.ulmerfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Ulmer Funeral Home.
