Lorna Jean Miller Snyder

Lorna Jean Miller Snyder of Olympia died suddenly on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at St. Peter Hospital. The second of five children of Walter G. “Pop” Miller and Catherine Benson Miller, Lorna was born in Seattle, Washington, on April 26, 1941. Her first years were spent on Bainbridge Island, where her father was the high school principal. The family moved to Aberdeen, Washington, in 1945, where her parents continued careers in education with the Aberdeen School District. Lorna attended St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1959. She attended Western Washington University and graduated with a degree in education in 1963. She worked in the Highline School District for one year before marrying Wm. Richard “Dick” Snyder Sr. on March 21, 1964. As a Navy wife, Lorna and her family were stationed in Yokohama, Japan; Pensacola, Florida; Sidi Yahia, Morocco; and Mare Island and San Diego, California. After Dick’s retirement, they were divorced and Lorna returned to the family home in Aberdeen. Lorna worked at St. Joseph Hospital in Aberdeen for many years before transferring to St. Peter Hospital in Olympia in 1986, where she worked in the billing office until she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2000. Expected to live no more than three years, she surprised everyone by living with that diagnosis, along with high blood pressure, skin cancer and diabetes, for 15 years. Her family says “She was one tough chick.” Outside of her job, Lorna was an avid sports fan. Her father was a coach and a referee. He used to take his daughters to watch games on the weekend to give their mom a break, so Lorna developed her love of games early. She loved the Aberdeen Bobcats, the Washington Huskies, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Seattle Mariners. And she would even root for the WSU Cougars as long as they weren’t playing the Huskies. She loved Russell Wilson and, during football season, her fingernails were always painted blue and green. She faithfully attended her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting competitions, from their youth games through grade school matches and on into high school games. Lorna is survived by her beloved children, Becky Snyder and her daughter, Caitlyn of Lacey; Wm. Richard Snyder, Jr. and his wife, Judy, of Chehalis; Tori Snyder Byington and her husband, Chris Byington, of Lacey, Tori’s children, Jordyn Sagawinit of Lacey and Noah Sagawinit of Camp LeJune, North Carolina; Lisa Snyder of Olympia; Stephanie Snyder Hampton and her husband, John Hampton, and their daughter, Lilly, all of Lacey and Stephanie’s daughter, Alysse Normoyle of Tumwater; and her cherished “adopted” son, Brett Thomas of Spokane. She is also survived by her siblings, Jerry Miller of Springhill, FL, his wife, Connie, of Vancouver, WA, and their sons, Adin Miller and his wife, Tracy, of Tampa, FL, and Alex Miller of Vancouver, WA; Charlene Miller Hunt and her husband, Sam Hunt, of Olympia, and their children Hillary Hunt and her son Rory, and Nathan Hunt and his wife, Amanda, all of Lacey; and her brother-in-law, Jim Bush of Olympia, his daughter, Lindsay Bush, and her sons, Mason and Nolan Valdez all of Lacey; her nephew, Mark Miller, his wife, Kris and their sons, Drew and Luke Miller all of Vancouver; and niece, Jessica Miller Hollingsworth, her husband, Nathan and their daughters, Anna and Emma of Winterville, NC. Also surviving is Lorna’s loyal canine companion of 13 years, Caesar. Lorna was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Kris Bush, of Olympia, and brother, Walter G. Miller, Jr. of Vancouver, WA. Lorna never heard of a charity she could not find some way to support. So in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to two of her favorite causes, the American Cancer Society and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Please leave memories of Lorna or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.