Richard Ivan Snavely

Richard Ivan Snavely age 76, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 at 10:29 in the evening. Rick was born on April 3rd, 1949 in Parsons, Kansas to Floyd and Ruby Snavely. Rick graduated from Labette County High School in 1967 and then studied Art at Labette County Community College. He was proud to serve his beloved country and joined the Navy in 1969. In the Navy, he served as an electrician on aircraft, primarily on the A-4 Skyhawk. In his final months of service, he married Shirley McCoy of Hiawatha, Kansas on July 1st, 1972. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in the spring of 1973. Rick and Shirley made their home in Meridian Mississippi, Altamont, Parsons, and Hiawatha Kansas and finally in Belton, Missouri. Rick was a proud locomotive engineer for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad and later the Union Pacific Railroad, from which he retired after 37 years of service in 2009. In the early years of his retirement, Rick cared for his young grandchildren and enjoyed some traveling. Rick was a highly regarded member of the Nazarene churches in the towns in which he lived where he was often found teaching Sunday school, serving on the board, greeting folks early on Sunday mornings, discipling new believers, and at the altar praying. He also served as an Assistant Scout Master to the Boy Scouts of America attending many camps, canoe trips and troop meetings. At Christmas he could be found dressed as Santa bringing joy to children of all ages. In his free time Rick enjoyed studying the Bible, painting, traveling, hunting, boating, spending time with his family, and making nightly phone calls to his dear mother. He is survived by his mother Ruby, sisters Sylvia, Sheila (Mike), Iris (Rusty) and brother Bryan (Marsha). Also surviving are his devoted wife Shirley, son Sean (Alisa), and daughters Rachel (Ted) and Beth (Eric). He had eight grandchildren: Madison, Libby, Mac, Joe, Levi, Julia, Joanna and Joy. He was loved and adored by dozens of nieces and nephews who, due to his playfulness, often referred to him as Tricky Uncle Ricky. He was known for his devotion to God, family and country, his boisterous laughter and his gentle nature. He was perhaps the youngest 76 year old his family ever knew.