Patty Snyder

Patricia "Patty" Lane Snyder, age 80, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2025. A memorial

service celebrating her life will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Church

of the Nazarene, officiated by Pastor Rob Brooks.

Patty was born on January 30, 1945, in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico, to Willard and Jessie Cook. A proud

first-generation college student, she attended Eastern New Mexico University, earning a Bachelor of

Science in Education. While at Eastern, she met the love of her life, Grant Snyder. The two were

married on September 2, 1966, beginning a lifelong partnership filled with love, laughter, and

service.

After graduation, Patty and Grant accepted teaching positions in Tehachapi, California. With

youthful optimism and a promise to her father that they'd only stay a year, they packed up their

car and set out for Tehachapi-sight unseen. That "one year" became a lifetime. Together, they built

a home, raised a family, taught generations of students, coached, mentored, and became passionate

advocates for teachers and children. Their deep roots in Tehachapi grew into lifelong friendships

and a legacy of caring that touched countless lives.

Patty and Grant loved traveling and spending time with family and friends. Some of their fondest

memories were summer days spent at the lake or "swimming at the Snyder's at 2:00." After Grant's

passing in 2015, Patty continued to pour her heart into her family, church, and community. She

found joy in her children and grandchildren, her church family, volunteering with the Hospital

Guild, and countless hours with dear friends. She loved a good game of Skip-Bo or dominoes, and no

outing was complete without a visit to her favorite restaurant, Mexicali.

Patty was preceded in death by her beloved husband Grant, her sisters Carolyn and Connie, and her

first, and very best friend in Tehachapi, Patty Gamble.

She is survived by her son, Patrick, and his family-Kristen, his wife, and their children Jacob,

daughter in law Shalynn, and Patty; and by her daughter, Mandy, and her family-Jeffrey, her

husband, and their children Emerson, her son in law Jackson, and Eli. Patty also leaves behind a

niece and three nephews, Renee Shorter, Doug Wilmeth, Bobby Roy, and Mike Truelock, as well as many

loyal friends who were like family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Disease

Association of Kern County (ADAKC.org) in Patty's memory.

Arrangements are entrusted to Wood Family Funeral Service, Inc.