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Harold Clarence Snyder

Harold Clarence Snyder, 88, passed peacefully on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, at his residence for the past seven and one half years at Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dunkirk.

Born on Friday, April 13, 1930, in Sinclairville, to the late Clarence and Robbie Lee Forrest Snyder.

Harold spent his early years growing up in “God’s Country” (Chautauqua County). He attended Cassadaga Valley Central School. At the age of 19, he joined other members of his family and moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where he married the former Rosella Fitzpatrick on June 20, 1953, who survives him. Also surviving is his sister, Shirley (Howard) Crowell of Sinclairville; one cousin, James (Barbara Stofan) Hiller of State College, Pa.; and his four children: Cynthia (James) Yale of Glen Burnie, Md., Melinda (Steven) Lehnen of Fredonia, Steven (Debra Marsh) Snyder of Fleming Island, Fla., and Susan (David) Muscato of Cassadaga, N.Y. He also is survived by seven grandchildren: Paul, Heather, Christopher, Brian, Michael, Lucas and Gregory; seven great-grandchildren: Briana, Morgan, Cortland, Ramona, Aiden, Seth and Christopher; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Harold worked for 17 years at the Cudahey Meat Packing Company in Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff, Ariz., as a meat salesman. He was also in the Naval Reserves during the Korean War. He moved his family back to western New York in 1965, where he worked for four years in the retail meat industry before becoming self-employed as owner/operator of the first, Cassadaga superette. the former Red and White in Cassadaga, along with the Cassadaga Laundromat on the four corners of Cassadaga from 1969-71 and then went into partnership to form Cassadaga Supermarket Inc. which included Cassadaga Super Duper (now Cassadaga Shur- Fine), Cassadaga Laundromat and Sinclairville Superette, from which he retired in 1984.

After retirement, he kept busy at numerous jobs including Meals on Wheels, home health aide, crossing guard at Cassadaga Elementary School, landscaping and visiting/enjoying his grandchildren and other relatives and traveled as much as possible to Alaska, Arizona, Florida, etc. When asked what his greatest accomplishment was, he stated he was instrumental in establishing the first and only bank in Cassadaga, (First Key Bank and now Community Bank).

He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also had a love of dogs and always had a family dog, the latest was his golden retriever, Ellie Mae, who passed peacefully in January, 2018 at the age of 11. He also had a “fan club” of numerous nurses aides, nurses, physical therapy/ occupational therapy personnel, dietary personnel, maintenance personnel, custodians, office personnel at the CNRC and especially on the 2A unit where he spent the majority of his later years, first in rehab, then as a resident and where his wife, Rosie, still resides. He greeted everyone with a smile, good- humored kidding, nicknames and loved the sunshine, coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts, and Cheetos.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Betty (late-James) Fellinger of Dunkirk; one brother, John (late-Jackie Candy) Snyder of Fredonia; his aunt and uncle, Margaret and Warren Hiller Sr. of Dunkirk; his cousins: Warren (late Katherine-who was also his sister-in-law) Hiller Jr. of Phoenix, Ariz.; Robert Woodard of Jamestown and Donald Hiller of Anchorage, Alaska; and several other aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday at Jordan Funeral Home, Sinclairville. Visitation will be held two hours prior to service. Burial will be Cassadaga Cemetery.

Flowers respectfully declined. Memorial may be made to the SPCA, Sinclairville 76ers Meals on Wheels, Cassadaga Cemetery Association, Nursing Scholarships at Jamestown Community College or the Cassadaga Volunteer Fire Department

Arrangements will be made by Jordan Funeral Home in Sinclairville, N.Y.