Myrtle I. Gebauer

Myrtle I. Gebauer age 94, died peacefully at her home Friday morning, November 15.
She was born October 10, 1919 at the home of her parents, the late Henry and Myrtie (Haley) Leitch in Colfax Twp.

Myrtle attended a country school through eighth grade. The change from the small country school to Elkton High School was too great for her. She left school after the tenth grade, but not before she was exposed to the people and situations that would shape the rest of her life. In hind sight, she wished she had finished, but times were bad and an education was considered a luxury.
Myrtle married Elmer G. Snider and together they had seven children. They went to Detroit in search of employment. When the war broke out, she went to the factory and was to become one of the “Rosie the Riveters”. She and Elmer parted after 25 years of marriage.

Much to Myrtle’s surprise on an arranged date, she went out with a guy she’d had a crush on in high school, the former basketball star, Karl Gebauer. A budding romance ensued, meeting in Lapeer, the halfway point between Detroit and Elkton. They married April 6, 1963, moving back to Huron County to live on a farm. She and Karl opened the Riverview Mobile Home Park east of Elkton in 1967 on part of the farm. They operated it for 15 years retiring and selling the park in October of 1982. Myrtle loved to garden and can her harvest. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting and quilting. Many of her family and friends have gifts of her lovingly made handy work.
After Karl died, December 13, 1997, she moved to Bad Axe to be near her church and friends. As time went on and her friends moved on in their life’s journey, she moved to Bay City to be near her daughter. Still wanting independence, she lived in her own home. This past year she maintained this life style with the help, care and companionship of her closest friend, Deb Spannagel.

Surviving are her children, Kenneth (Nedra) Snider of Dublin, GA, Delmar (Billie) Snider of Westland, Ronald (Mary Beth) Snider of Pigeon, Robert (Diana) Snider of Belleville, Douglas (Joanne) Gebauer of Elkton, Kerry (Rosalyn) Snider of Middleville and Myrtie (Addney) Biery of Linwood; son-in-law, Mike Jerome; daughter-in-law, Nancy Snider of Port Huron; 29 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; brothers, Johnny (Vernie) Leitch of Walled Lake, Norman Leitch of Pinnebog and Daniel Leitch of Bay Port and sister-in-law, Eunice Leitch of Chandler Twp.
Preceding her in death were two children, Pamela Jerome and Darwin Snider; her two grandsons, David Snider and Michael Snider; siblings, Barbara Hayes, Angeline Gardner, Eugene, Harry, William, Oliver and James Leitch.

Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 AM Wednesday, November 20, at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton. Rev. Kincaid will officiate with burial in Riverside Cemetery, Elkton.
The family will receive visitors from 2 to 8 PM Tuesday and after 10 AM Wednesday.
Memorial gifts may be directed to the family.