Dessie (Mills) Snyder

Dessie (Mills) Snyder, age 79 of Cassopolis, MI, passed away on Saturday November 4, 2023 at her home

surrounded by her family. Dessie was born on August 16, 1944 in Clay County, KY to her parents

John D. Mills and Delora Jackson. She met Robert “Bob” George Snyder the summer of 1966 and married June 23, 1974. Dessie was by Bob’s side every day for more than 55 years and became a widow

October 25, 2021, when Bob transitioned from this Earth.

Not born of money, Dessie came into this Earth born into a home with a dirt floor, surrounded by the love of family.

Growing up, she endured some of the biggest struggles a child might face and around her had the love of her mother, Delora Mills or as Dodie’s, her brothers and sisters. Of all, her grandmother had 18 adulthood living children. Dessie enjoyed family laughter and song, she loved to sing. Family was very important for at the same time, Delora was working on a family of her own. Dessie had herself 8 eight brothers and sisters by the time Bob came into her life. She was often quoted to say, she “loved Bob from the moment she laid eyes on him.”

As life rolled on, Dessie worked at Nickle’s Bakery and Elixir, where windows were being manufactured. Afterward, she became a full-time homemaker. Music continued to fill her home with Motown favorites, Elvis Presley, and early country music. She loved animals and never wished to harm anything. She raised pigeons, ducks, dogs, ground hogs, but she really loved her cats.

Dessie enjoyed her later years surrounded by her own family of four children, grandchildren, and great

grandchild. She loved nature and the Earth often insisting she wanted to scout for unique rocks. Dessie

liked her crafts like making beaded jewelry, flower arrangements, and quilting. Later years were spent

gardening, watching tv shows like Jerry Springer, Divorce Court, and Hardcore Pawn while sipping her

beer.

Family and friends will miss Dessie. She was a loving wife mother, grandmother, great grandmother, as

well as beautiful friend. Those who met Dessie often called her mom. Her surviving children are

daughter Velta Rose (husband Robert "Charlie") Beeman of Muncie IN, her son Cary Lee (husband Basit) Snyder of

Cassopolis MI, and youngest daughter Sherry Francis Snyder of Rolling Prairie IN. Surviving

grandchildren are Carl (wife Amber) Elliott, Brandon Elliott, Robert (fiancee: Rachel Durbin) Beeman, Ray (wife Lindsey) Beeman,

Betty Gillespie, and Rose (husband Stephen) Cunningham. Surviving great grandchildren are Preston,

Alivia, Anthony, Mayson, Brandon, Dalton, Dylan, Bryce, Kai, Kira, Promise, Rayden, Lilliana, Lexi, Braiden, Angel, Rayman and several more. Surviving siblings include Ernest Mills of Florida, Margaret Barnes of Kentucky, Lester Jackson of Elkhart IN, Allan Pickard of Kentucky, and Jessie Smallwood of Kentucky.

Dessie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Irene Delora Elliott, granddaughter

Brttney Elliott, great-granddaughter Lillian Leigh Deon Elliott, and sisters Lorie Faye Pickard and Georgie

Mills.

In keeping with Dessie’s wishes there will be no services. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stemm-

Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514. Online condolences may be

made to her family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com