Official Legal Publication serving Lincoln County and the Towns of Arriba, Genoa, Hugo, Karval and Limon
Ray was born to parents Lewis
and Roberta on August 19, 1937,
in Springfield, Baca County,
Colo. Ray was the second of four
children, with an older brother,
and a younger sister and brother.
Ray passed peacefully in his sleep
in the early morning hours of
December 1, 2022, at the age of 85
years.
Ray is preceded in death by his
father Lewis Snodgrass, mother
Roberta (Daugherty) Snodgrass,
older brother Lloyd Snodgrass
and his beloved wife Elva DeEtta
“Dee” (Kennedy) Snodgrass.
Ray is survived by his sister
Rosalie (Ray) Hall, brother Leroy
Snodgrass, daughters Raylene
(Calvin) Josserand, Julie (Hank)
McCarthy, Linda Theesfeld,
son Casey (Nancy Hatfield)
Snodgrass, 7 grandchildren, 9
great-grandchildren, 4 great-greatgrandchildren and in-laws, nieces,
nephews and friends too numerous
to count.
At the time of his birth, Ray’s
family was living and farming in
the Edler community, southwest
of Springfield. Around the midforties, the family moved to
southwestern Kansas for a spell,
relocating to the Springfield area
in 1951 to what would become
referred to as “the family farm”
southwest of Springfield.
Ray attended and graduated
Springfield High School, Class
of 1955, where he was active
in athletics and FFA as well as
achieving National Honor Society
recognition.
After high school Ray married
Dee Kennedy, also of Springfield,
on June 1, 1958. This joyous union
begat four children, three girls and
one boy, all named above.
To support his new bride,
Ray owned and operated the
Snodgrass Conoco service station
in Springfield. With an eye to the
future, Ray gained employment
with Plateau Natural Gas Co. as
a service man. Ray would stay
in the natural gas business until
his retirement. Ray saw Plateau
change names several times
through his tenure (Northern NG,
People’s NG, etc.), but stuck
with it and retired as a Regional
Manager serving eastern Colorado,
Nebraska, Kansas and others.
Ray’s career led his family on a
storied journey throughout eastern
Colorado and Colorado Springs.
All three girls were born in
Lamar, before the family moved
to Burlington, where the fourth
child and only boy was born. As
Ray progressed and advanced
within the gas company, the family
moved to Flagler, then Cheyenne
Wells, then Limon and finally
Colorado Springs before settling
back in Burlington. While there
will always be deep family roots in
Springfield and Baca County, Ray
and Dee ultimately adopted and
considered Burlington as “home”.
Ray’s restless nature and desire to
help and serve others led him to a
post-retirement second career with
the City of Burlington, where he
was tasked with the maintenance of
the city’s senior living apartments
and assisted-income housing. He
had a great passion for working
with his hands, and he especially
took joy in helping others. Ray
was loved and respected by the
people he worked with and for. It
was a good fit for all.
All who knew him, knew that
Ray was always an avid sportsman.
In his early adult life, he loved
participating in town-team sports,
particularly baseball or softball
and basketball. Ray also coached
competitive women’s fast pitch
softball for several years. He had
a marked passion for individual
sports such as golf and racquetball
as well. He participated in
countless tournaments throughout
the years and enjoyed playing both
at every opportunity. It was not
unusual for him to golf twice a day
when he had the opportunity after
his second retirement.
In addition to all things sports,
Ray always took pride in his
home and spent countless hours
maintaining his yard and gardens.
His yard was always well tended,
and often earned him and Dee
accolades and the occasional
award from the local garden club.
Though Ray considered
Burlington home until the end,
his final time was spent in a
very nice assisted living facility
in Westminster, Colo., where
he was well taken care of. The
Westminster location was also
very convenient for visitation, as
all Ray and Dee’s children and
many extended family members
reside in the Denver area. This is
of great comfort to his family, as
we know that he was well loved,
well regarded and well treated
right up until the end. We do have
comfort in the fact that his passing
was peaceful and painless.
God Bless
Final arrangements are still
pending at this time.
