Gaylord Merle Snyder died at the age of 85 on July 5, 2018 at the Aldersgate Asbury Center in Charlotte, NC. On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1932 Vernon and Mamie Snyder were hosting a holiday dinner in a Mennonite community near Ashley, Michigan when Mamie told the guests they had to "clear out" as Gaylord was about to make his entrance into this world.Gaylord grew up on the farm in Ashley and was a 1951 graduate of Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns, MI where he was a member of the football team which was undefeated during the '49, '50, and '51 seasons. The team was inducted into the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a natural born leader and was president of the St. Johns Student Council his senior year. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Indiana University in Bloomington. He was a nursing administrator at hospitals in Burlington, VT., Asheville, NC, and Wilmington, NC, and Vice-President of Patient Services at hospitals in Knoxville, TN., and West Palm Beach, FL. He was active in the Presbyterian and Methodist churches throughout his life. He was a member of the Ashe County Garden Club and Arts Council in Jefferson, NC. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, working in the yard, making wine and maple syrup, and traveling. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Ann (Stilwell) Snyder.Other survivors include: sons Kevin Snyder of Houston, TX, and Christopher Snyder (Angela) of Charlotte, NC; daughter Kimberly Leibbrand (Chuck) of Berthoud, CO; grandchildren Molly Snyder, Hayley Snyder, Karen Snyder, and Colton Leibbrand; brother Clifford Snyder (Donna); and sisters Carolyn Ely, and Marilyn Jackson (John). Gaylord was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be greatly missed.Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 13 at Aldersgate in Charlotte, and at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 14 at Jefferson United Methodist Church in Jefferson, NC. Donations may be made to Jefferson United Methodist Church, 115 E Main St., Jefferson, NC28640