Charles Lester Snouffer

Charles Lester Snouffer of Louisburg, Kansas, passed away July 6, 2012 at North Point Skilled Nursing Care in Paola, Kansas at the age of 97. Lester was born May 12, 1915, to Verlin V. and Mary Alice Phillips Snouffer, on the family farm near Somerset, Kansas, becoming the third generation of Snouffers to live there. Two of his great-grandchildren live there with their parents today. Lester graduated from the Paola High School in 1934, where he"d been a guard on the football team. After high school, he moved to Lind, Washington, to work for Phillips Farms. In September 1942, he joined the United States Army, serving as a sergeant in the 219th Artillery 35th Division. After returning home, Lester rekindled his friendship with Etta Irene Gillogly, a teacher at Moore School in Louisburg. On February 19, 1946"Etta"s birthday"they married in Ft. Scott, Kansas, and kept it a secret until school let out in April so that Etta could finish out the year. Together, they returned to Lind and Phillips Farms, where Lester worked as a wheat rancher until he retired in 1984. In 1985, they moved back to Louisburg. Lester was proud to be involved with his community. He played a role in the first Lind Rodeo; he was a 32nd Degree Master Mason, and was also a member of the Shriners and Eastern Star. He loved being outside, whether he was fishing, hunting, farming or spending time with family. His wisdom, kindness and playful sense of humor will be missed by everyone who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Etta; his son Verlin and his wife Shelley Snouffer of Paola, KS; his daughters Mary Irene Hanson of Redmond, WA, Sandra Kay Leonetti and her husband Robert of Spokane, WA, and Alice Marie Hopkins and her husband David of Endicott, WA; seven grandchildren; two step grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and his sisters Mildred Hertha of Leawood, KS, Mary Beth Kaiser of Paola, KS, Esther Middlemass and her husband John of Leawood, KS, and Eleanor Grace Hannon and her husband Warren of Olathe, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations in Lester"s memory to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or to the Salvation Army.