Mary Jo Snider

It is with great sadness that we announce that Mary Jo Snider, 87, of Hye, Texas passed away peacefully at her home on March 25, 2026. Mary Jo was born on September 17, 1938 in San Antonio, Texas to Dr. A.F. Tasch, MD and Dorothy Tasch. Mary Jo was a parishioner of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Stonewall, Texas.

Mary Jo grew up in Taft, Texas and attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before eventually earning a Mathematics degree from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. After briefly living in St, Louis, Missouri, Mary Jo returned home to Taft, along with her first husband Larry H. Smith. Mary Jo dedicated more than 17 years teaching mathematics at Taft Junior High School. She truly loved teaching and that love was returned many times over by the students whose lives she touched. Mary Jo retired from teaching shortly after the passing of first husband in 1979.

Several years later, Mary Jo found true love again and married Captain W.A. (Bill) Snider, USN (ret), in 1985. Mary Jo embraced military life and while stationed in the Washington D.C. area, she was a volunteer at Arlington National Cemetery as a member of the "Arlington Ladies." Mary Jo was exposed to general aviation and earned her private pilot license, eventually working her way up to earning an advanced multi-engine rating. After Bill retired from the Navy, Mary Jo's talents were instrumental in the design and construction of their current home as well as a home for her mother at the family's ranch in Hye, Texas. Later, Mary Jo's artistic talents flourished as she became an accomplished and award-winning photographer along with having a part in the album cover design for regional music artists.

Mary Jo and Bill enjoyed traveling, with Rockport, Texas and the British Virgin Islands being their most frequent destinations. Among her most favorite times of the year was Thanksgiving, when family would gather and stay at the ranch annually. Mary Jo enjoyed feeding deer, turkey, and other wildlife year-round. She also had a great fondness for her horses, donkeys, cats, and her dog Sophia.

Mary Jo is survived by her husband, Captain W.A. (Bill) Snider, USN (ret); sons Larry Smith and his wife, Eva, of Alleyton, Texas; James Smith and his wife, Marletta, of Whitewright, Texas; Clare Eileen Moore and her husband, Rick, of Granbury, Texas; and Scott Snider and his wife, Susan, of Hillsborough, North Carolina. Mary Jo is also survived by grandchildren, Zachary Smith and his fiancée, Megan Martinez; Lucas Smith and his fiancée Cynthia Medina; Sarah Lang and her husband Steven Lang; Courtney Smith and her fiancé Brandon Hopson; Adam Moore and his wife Crisia Merino; Sheana Roberts, Jacob Moore, Clareasa Snider, Michael Snider, Aunna Snider, Eli Snider, and Emmersyn Snider. Additionally, Mary Jo was blessed with many great-grandchildren.

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her first husband Larry H. Smith; her parents, Dr. A.F. Tasch, M.D. and Dorothy Tasch; and her brother A.F. Tasch, Jr., PhD.

Visitation will begin 2:00 pm with a Rosary at 3:00 p.m. and the Funeral Mass to follow at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday March 31, 2026 at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Stonewall, Texas with Fr. Phillip Henning and Fr. James Harnan officiating. The Rite of Committal and burial will be held in a private service at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Tunnels To Towers Foundation ( www.t2t.org )

Expressions of sympathy may be sent at www.schaetter.com

Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Schaetter Funeral Home