Vera Belle Snell

Vera Belle Simmons Snell, age 88, was born on October 15, 1923 in Liberty Hill, Texas and passed away peacefully on February 19, 2012 in Katy, Texas. She had a massive stroke in January and also suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Vera grew up in Liberty Hill and Llano, Texas and later moved to Palestine, where she graduated from high school in 1941. She graduated from Nixon's Business College in 1943 and later worked in Houston for McCarthy Oil & Gas and Texas Gulf Producing Company. She met Arthur Henry Snell, Jr., at the Dixie Dude Ranch in Bandera, Texas and they later married on July 10, 1948. They were married 63 yrs. Their first home was in Port Lavaca, Texas, where she worked as a bookkeeper and in 1950, they moved to Robstown, Texas and started a family. By 1951, she worked for the last time in Corporate America. Vera loved to play bridge, read, garden, fish, travel, and look for sand dollars along Galveston Beach. Her favorite past time was going to their country home in Centerville, Texas and spending time with her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death was her husband, Arthur, her parents Gladys and William Simmons; her brother, William Glen Simmons; sisters, Wilma Nell Jennings, Mary Helen Thompson, Bobbye Chester, and granddaughter, Leslie Ann Snell. Leslie was the youngest daughter of Jim and Marilyn Snell. Vera is survived by her three sons, James Robert Snell and wife, Marilyn; John Thornton Snell and wife, Jan; and Arthur (Rusty) Henry Snell, III and wife, Linda; a sister, Ann Richardson and husband, Mack; a sister-in-law, Elaine Snell; seven grandchildren, Melissa Snell Santana and husband, Scott; Courtney Snell Tarbox and husband, Jason; Ryan Snell and wife, Dana; Taylor Snell and fiancée, Alix; Patrick Snell; Travis Snell; Hannah Snell; five great-grandchildren, Aubrey and Garrett Tarbox; James and Sophie Santana, Parker Snell and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be the grandsons, Ryan, Taylor, Patrick and Travis Snell; nephews, James and Rick Snell; Scott Santana and Jason Tarbox. The Snell Family would like to thank Cane Island Nursing Home, The Solana@Cinco Ranch, Robin Satter, and the physicians who cared for Vera. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 from 4-7 pm at Forest Park Westheimer. The funeral service will be held in the Chapel of Forest Park Westheimer on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 3pm. Interment will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, www.alzfdn.org or Alzheimer's Association , ww.alz.org.