DEL NORTE & ALAMOSA — Longtime Del Norte and Alamosa resident Andrew Ray Snyder, 92, passed away April 26, 2019 at Sangre de Cristo Hospice and Palliative Care in Pueblo.

Ray was one of two children born to George Frank and Nellie Ann Perdue Snyder in Panhandle, Texas. He was born on June 1, 1926.

Ray met his cherished wife, Precious, as a young child, and they grew up knowing one another’s families.

They were united in marriage on June 19, 1948 in Borger, Texas after he returned from World War II.

Ray was extremely proud of his service in the United States Army and loved to talk about his experiences in World War II.

He was drafted before he graduated from Borger High School and reported for training in September of 1944. He took a bus to Oklahoma City, then to Camp Chaffe in Arkansas.

He completed his basic training at Camp Walters in Texas.

Ray was then sent to Fort Meade, Maryland to wait for a ship to take him across the Atlantic Ocean.

As a young soldier, Ray enjoyed his few days in Washington, D.C., before sailing out of New York harbor on a 12-day voyage to Liverpool, England. Once in England, Ray and his company boarded a train to cross the country to where another ship waited to take them across the English Channel.

After landing in Lucky Strike, France, they took another train to Leige, Belgium.

The last leg of their journey to the front line was by Army truck. While he had traveled extensively in the United States as a young boy, Ray remembered being fascinated by all the things he saw on his journey to the war in Europe.

He admitted to being nervous about finding his way around in strange countries where he didn’t always speak the language. After being injured on the front line, Ray was in a hospital in Paris, France, when the war ended. Some of his favorite stories of time spent in the 78th

Infantry Division were of his three trips across the Remagen Bridge and the time he spent in Berlin, Germany, keeping peace at the end of the war.

For his service, he was awarded a Campaign Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star, the Good Conduct Medal, an Army Occupation Ribbon — Germany, a Victory Ribbon, and Overseas Service Bars.

He also received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds he received in combat on March 12, 1945.

After his military service, Ray went back to working in the home construction industry and eventually started his own company.

He built many homes and commercial buildings in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Colorado. Woodworking was one of his special talents.

After retiring as a contractor, he taught himself wood turning to make vases, lamps and newel posts. The model cars, trucks and doll cradles he made are cherished by his friends and grandchildren.

Ray especially loved to travel and see the world. Trips with his wife, family and friends to Germany, Alaska and Hawaii were among his favorite and most memorable trips.

In recent years, he especially enjoyed traveling to see his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ray treasured the time spent with his extensive family and especially enjoyed the countless Carter reunions held on the Fourth of July for many years. 

After vacationing in the mountains for many years, Ray and Precious made the mountains their permanent home and moved to the San Luis Valley more than 30 years ago.

Ray is survived by his children, Jaynell Trosclair of Scott, La. and Timothy (Cyndi) Snyder of Alamosa; his sister-in-law, Marylyn Anderson of Shawnee, Okla.; his grandchildren, Summer Hance of Houston, Texas, Drew Deshotels of Gulf Shores, Ala., Nicholas (Jessica) Trosclair of Youngsville, La., Timothy (Sarah) Trosclair of Lafayette, La., Tracie Trosclair of Scott, La., Yurie (Amber) Polk of Gulf Shores, Ala., Dusty Polk of Foley, Ala., Lezanne (Eric) Proctor of Foley, Ala., Bradley Polk of Gulf Shores, Ala., Douglas (Brittany) Polk of Foley, Ala., Timmy Snyder of Gulf Shores, Ala., Stevie (Levi) Crane of Gulf Shores, Ala., Nikki Cazantzes of Gulf Shores, Ala., Jesse (Tiffany) Cazantzes of Bon Secour, Ala., Craig (Katelyn) Simon of Fort Worth, Texas and Crystal (Josh) Johnson of Lynnwood, Wash.; his 28 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. 

He is preceded in death by his wife, Precious Carter Snyder; his parents; his children, Suzanne Snyder and Stephen Snyder; his sister, Frankie Nell Potter and her husband P.B.; and in-laws, Emilie Turner and her husband Hansel, Gerald Carter and his wife Lorene, Ed Carter, Jr. and his wife Evelyn, Sterline Joyner and her husband A.P., Margie Norman and her husband Harold, Frank Carter and his wife Ann, Fabrice Cribbs and Andy Anderson.

A visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, May 1 at Gateway Baptist Church in Del Norte.

A funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. Interment will take place at a later date. 

Contributions are suggested to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. 

Rogers Family Mortuary of Alamosa is in care of the arrangements and online condolences for Ray’s family may be made by visiting his obituary at www.rogersfunerals.com.