Richard E. "Dick" Snell

1947 - 2024

Richard E. "Dick" Snell May 5, 1947 - February 14, 2024 Richard E. "Dick" Snell, 76, longtime upper county resident, joined his wife in Heaven on Valentines Day. A memorial celebration will be held at 1:30pm on May 5 at the Cle Elum Eagles Club. There will also be a burial service with Air Force Honors on June 28, at 1:00pm at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA.

Dick was born in Lakeview, Oregon on May 5, 1947 to Leonard and Janice (Gifford) Brekke. He and his older brother Dale were adopted by stepfather Manfred Snell in 1952. The family lived in Bonners Ferry, Idaho before moving to the Seattle area in 1955 where his stepfather worked as a Boeing Engineer. In 1956, half brother Martin was born. Birth father Leonard would go on to marry Ruby and they had Dick's half siblings Steve, Dan, Doug Brekke, and Kathy Brekke Shapland.

Dick was a football star at Highline H.S. where he graduated in 1965. He worked for the Coca-Cola Co. before enlisting in the Air Force in 1966 and served his country in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1970.

At the age of 20, Dick was briefly married to his first wife Karen Tennison. He married Candyce VanAmburgh in 1972 and their daughters Shannon and Stacy were born of this union while living in the Burien area. They raised their girls on a small farm in Enumclaw while they both worked at Glass Supply. Dick was injured while volunteer flagging traffic and had a long recovery. They said goodbye to the farm life and moved to Cle Elum where they opened and operated Snell Glass for many years until Candy passed away unexpectedly on 10/25/99.

Dick moved to Thorp around 2010 and purchased a small home. Around 2018, Dick moved back to Cle Elum to care for one of his best friends Butch until he passed in 2022. Dick then moved to Westport to be closer to his family and enjoyed "Fishing Life" on the coast and traveling with his daughter.

Dick was easy going and full of life. He was a Glazier by trade and an excellent carpenter. He loved children and animals. Hunting, fishing, camping and gold mining were his favorite hobbies as he loved nature and the outdoors.

Beloved father and best friend you will be missed by many!

Predeceased by immediate family Manfred, Janice, Dale, Martin Snell; Wife Candyce Snell and birth father Leonard Brekke. Survived by daughters Shannon Allred and Stacy Hamlin; Grandsons William Anthony & Jayce Allred & Hunter Hamlin; Great Grandson William Allred IV and his mom, (Kaileigh Revelez); Half siblings Steve, Dan, Doug Brekke and Kathy Brekke Shapland; Niece Cindi Snell; Nephews Jeff, Chris & Alexander Snell; Candy's brother Phillip Van Amburgh and son Cory Kirkpatrick and family; numerous family and friends.