Grace Flowers Sneed

Grace Flowers Sneed, 85, of Longview, a devoted Christian homemaker, wife, mother, daughter, sister, servant, died peacefully Tuesday March 11, 2014 at her daughter’s home in Fair Oaks Ranch, TX. She was “jump started” into this world on Nov 25, 1928 when she was born lifeless at home in Uvalde, TX to Milton (Mit) and Louise (Doll) Flowers, the fourth of their eight children. Only after repeated bottom poppings, hot water ice water therapies, by the Grace of God did she awake to this world. As a senior in high school (Uvalde) in 1946, on Grace’s (Gracie’s) birthday trip to Austin, her cousin fixed her up with a blind date, an Aggie there for the tu game. They went to a dance, attended Midnight Yell Practice and the game the next day (she didn’t remember who won the game but always insisted she got the prize!). The blind date’s name was M.L. Sneed. That next June, after her high school graduation, they got engaged and were married April 24, 1948 in Uvalde. A year later, in April 1949, they welcomed their firstborn, daughter Jaime. In January 1950, upon M.L.’s graduation from Texas A&M, they moved to Visalia CA for seventeen months before returning to Texas for good. Over the next seven years, M.L. and Grace would add three more to their clan, all boys. P.S. Later, Grace went on to become a founding member of the Deep East Texas Aggie Mother’s Club as all their sons graduated from TAMU. M.L. passed away in 1999.

In the early 1960’s after her kids had started school, Grace returned to college, (she attended South West Texas Junior College between high school and marriage), this time to Stephen F. Austin State University earning a Master’s degree in education. She began her professional career in Vidor, TX (she was living in Beaumont at the time) teaching the sixth grade. She retired from teaching the sixth grade at Pine Tree Middle School in Longview, TX.

Grace lived the life of a humble faithful steadfast servant of the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. She nurtured and raised her family to love Jesus, a parent’s most important gift and duty to their children. She lived a Proverbs 31:10-31 life. She always put others before herself. (Mark 9:35) She ran her race in such a way as to get the prize; to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9:23-25) She now inhabits Heaven and has laid her crown at the feet of Jesus. (Revelation 4:10) All praise to the King!

Grace was very active in her home church, Greggton United Methodist Church in Longview where she served in many roles and she loved her Friendship-Sunshine Sunday School Class. She served many years in the United Methodist Women, on the board of the Asbury House Child Enrichment Center and delivering Meals on Wheels among others.

Survivors include her sisters; Helen Kelly of Kerrville, DeDe Ferguson of Corpus Christi, Martha and her husband, James Wallen of Kerrville, her children; daughter, Jaime and her husband Bill Goff of Fair Oaks Ranch, son, Wayne and his wife, Becky of Houston, son, Lindsay and his wife, Linda of Flint, son, John and his wife, Mary of Houston, her grandchildren; Matt Goff and his wife, Lori, of Albuquerque NM, Kelli and her husband, Jason McClain of Fair Oaks Ranch, Jill and her husband, Pete Shore of Owasso, OK , Stacy and her husband, Reid Conrad of San Antonio, David Sneed and his wife, Deanna of Cypress, Kevin Sneed and his wife, Charlotte of Cypress, Lucas Sneed and his wife, Kerry of The Woodlands, Mallory and her husband, Chris Travers of Dubai, UAE, Sara and her husband, Brandon Feske of Humble, and Ashton Sneed of Plantation, FL, her great grandchildren; 13 and counting.

Visitation is 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, March 17 at Lakeview Funeral Home. A private family graveside service will be held Tuesday morning March 18 followed by a Memorial Celebration service at 11 a.m. at Greggton United Methodist Church in Longview.

Pallbearers will be Grace’s sons, son-in-law, grandsons, grandsons-in-law and Gary Anderson.

Honorary Pallbearers: The Friendship-Sunshine Sunday School Class.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Asbury House Child Enrichment Center Building Fund, the Longview Community Ministries for Meals on Wheels, or the Gateways to Christ Fund all in care of Greggton United Methodist Church.