Mary Snodgrass

Mary Ann Snodgrass
December 5th 1921-July 14th 2017

On July 14th, we said goodbye to our dear sister, grandmother, and aunt, Mary Ann Sparks Snodgrass.

She was born the seventh child of a family of ten to Cora and Litch Sparks in Springfield Colorado.

Mary Ann was raised in Spearman Texas and graduated from Spearman High School in 1939. She joined her sister Owassa Nettles in Bakersfield in 1948 where she met and married the handsome Jack Snodgrass in 1950.

In 1953, they opened Westchester Flower and Gift Shop, which they owned and operated for 46 years. Mary Ann took great pride in buying for and merchandising the gift portion of the store.

Together, Jack and Mary Ann shared a love of travel and adventure, which led them from the South Pacific to the Middle East, Europe, the Caribbean, Japan, Canada and Hawaii.

Her true passion was cooking and entertaining. She always had a beautifully set table with gorgeous flowers and delicious food. Her friends and guests were always warmly greeted with an open smile and a good cocktail.

She was an accomplished bridge player, playing with many of the same friends for well over 40 years.

The people who loved her would call her elegant, spunky, smart, curious about the world, and extremely open and honest. She leaves a void never to be filled in our hearts.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jack, son Brian, brothers, Auby, James, Roscoe and WE Sparks: sisters, Opal Boxford, Owassa Nettles Valdez, Shirley Talley, and Billie Jo Kelley.

She is survived by her brother Litch Sparks Jr of Tampa Florida, granddaughters: Shelby Bellinger and Ashley Snodgrass of Redding California, special nieces and nephews, and wonderful friends. We all adored her.

Mary Ann requested no memorial service. She preferred her friends remember her and celebrate her life how they wish.

Special thanks to Gina Pyong for her love and kindness in caring for our aunt and gratitude to Vivian Wegis Stone and the Wegis family for being loving, supportive friends for all of these years.

Remembrances in Mary Ann's name may be made to the Assistance League of Bakersfield Bargain Box.