Obituary of Y. F. Snodgrass

ABERNATHY – Y. F. Snodgrass, 87, died in Lubbock on June 16, 2017, after a short battle with cancer.  A visitation with family will be held Sunday, June 25, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Abell Funeral Home in Abernathy.  After a private burial, a memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church, Abernathy on Monday, June 26 at 1:00 p.m.  Friends and visitors will be invited to remain and visit with the family after the service. Arrangements are under the direction of Abell Funeral Home & Flower Shop of Abernathy, TX.
               Born in Hedley, Texas, on October 3, 1929, Y. F. and family moved to the South Plains (New Deal) in 1938 and to Abernathy in 1945.  His father bought a farm west of Abernathy and Y. F. graduated from Abernathy High School in 1947.  He then joined the US Air Force in 1950 and served through 1953.
               He met and courted Mary Jo Smith when her family moved to Abernathy in 1948.  They were married on December 28, 1950 and were married for more than 66 years.  In 1961, they moved from Lubbock to Abernathy as he took over the farming operation from his parents.  He was active in Young Farmers, coached in summer baseball leagues and worked part time as a field representative for Grain Sorghum Producers Association.  In that job, he traveled over the Southwest, frequently taking teams from foreign countries and showing them agricultural methods and practices in America.  For years he served as an election judge in all types of elections and considered himself an old-fashioned Democrat. 
               An avid sports fan, he zealously supported the activities and teams of his sons and grandchildren.  He and Mary Jo made trips to Fort Worth, Wichita Falls and Lubbock to watch all types of games, plus a few track meets.  They also took in PTA programs and choir concerts, which was particularly ironic, since he sang like a bullfrog.
               More than any other interest, besides his family, he was an integral member, teacher and deacon at First Baptist Church in Abernathy.  He served on numerous committees and was on two pastor search committees.  He taught all age groups but spent more than a quarter century teaching a men’s class.  Faithfulness in church attendance was paramount.  He truly lived the message of Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD.”
               Tragically, he lost his sight at age 70, and while that caused heartache, he continued to farm, be a faithful church member and devoted grandfather and great grandfather.  Like so many farmers and ranchers on the South Plains, he always wanted more rain.
               He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo; four sons: Don Snodgrass of Abernathy, Kent Snodgrass and wife Liz of Fort Worth, Scott Snodgrass and wife Cindy of Fredericksburg, Kirk Snodgrass of Lubbock; Grandchildren:  Craig Snodgrass and wife Amanda of Wichita Falls, Clark Snodgrass and wife Lynn of Lubbock, Beth Snodgrass of Wichita Falls, Clayton Snodgrass and wife Alex of Dallas, Nathan Snodgrass and wife Kelly of New York City, NY, Taylor Snodgrass of Lubbock, Devin Snodgrass of Lubbock and Madison Snodgrass of Austin; Four great grandchildren; two former daughters-in-law:  Brenda Snodgrass of Wichita Falls, Michelle Sandefur Snodgrass of Lubbock; a sister-in-law Ann Pope and husband Leon and brother-in-law Jim Bob Smith and wife Roy Fay, all of Lubbock.
               His parents; Claude William and Rhetta Mae Snodgrass and three brothers; Eugene, Don and Troy all predeceased him.
The family suggests memorials to the Abernathy First Baptist Church General Fund or to Gideons International