This is the latest information that I could find as of today.
Here's what his wife Carey posted on FB: "To all of John's FB friends...I want to let you all know that John passed away this past Saturday morning. He had been diagnosed with cancer about a month ago and had started treatment. Unfortunately, he quickly developed pneumonia and due to other health issues, his body was unable to fight any longer. He did not want a funeral service.
If anyone would like to make a donation in his honor, his favorite charities were St Judes Research Hospital for Children and Shriners Hospital for Children. Peace and blessings to you all, Carey Snider".
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Neal Willard
I’ve been reading and listening to what everyone had to say about John and staring at that photo of a group of us at our last reunion. It is a picture of John, and several other old friends that could have easily been forgotten, except for a desire to remember who we are today because of whom we once were. The thing I noticed the most in the picture was John arm on my shoulder, which is how I always thought of John. Supportive, caring, and a friend who was always there when called upon.
Those of us who shared in John’s life, no matter how brief, shared with him his love and his determination. Though John might have mellowed with age, he was always a wild and unpredictable ride. Today we are able to see his wife and children and we see in them the reflection of many of John’s qualities. As many of us have written, we can see his light, his darkness, his sweetness, his roughness, his gentleness, his anger, his brilliance, his handsomeness, and his goodness. John appeared to have lived a life where he did what he wanted to do and he let the chips, human and otherwise, fall where they may. Like a lot of us, John was capable of great magic and challenging what was most predictable. This is how many of us remember the nature of our friend John.
Remembering John, his Life and his music, and especially recalling all those great memories it is obvious it will take the whole class, if not the school. For those of us so fortunate to have created recent memories with John we have been challenged not to wait to renew old friends at the pearly gates, but to seek out those old and new friends today. John will be a tough act to follow but he brought things into our lives that were unique and when he turned on that charm, it illuminated our world. For those of us who were all lucky enough to stand in that light over the last 50 to 60 years, John’s heart will always remain in the Temple of our Soul.
John, thank you for your kindness, your strength, your dedication, your music and your story. Thanks for the miracle… and for letting all of us remember the past slip through the side door of the Temple of your Soul.
People will walk in and walk out of our life, but the one whose footsteps make a long lasting impression are the ones we should never allow to be forgotten. John is one of those people. This is not the end but the start of something big.
Miss you!
Kathryn Jost
I gasped when I read this. I'm so sorry to hear of John's passing. He was a great guy, knowing him 7 - 9 grade & the last few years via Facebook. He was always very kind and sweet and it seems he stayed that way thru the years. My deepest condolescenes to the family. ~ Kathryn Jost
Donny Hancock
Really shocked to hear of John's passing. He lived on Coker Loop road and I lived on North Loop road in the early 60's and we would often get together as kids to play yard football. When I first met him.....don't remember what year....but when were going to Garner we called him Martin. Later on he preferred John. Was a great friend and a genuine nice guy with a lot of honor and integrity about him and he always treated everyone with respect and dignity. An outstanding dedicated football player as well. Seemed like he always had a bandaged nose all during football season. The world is a lesser place without John for sure. RIP old friend.
DH
Phyllis Trcka
blessings to john's family and all his friends. his songs and heart will be missed. i know he will keep on singing and watching out for us from upstairs. love to all, and happy trails, john.
Phyllis Trcka
i have to say i got goosebumps when i read his favorite charities. st jude's in memphis and the shriner's....can't think of any that have done more for children. both have touched my life. and so did john.
Robert Cuddy
I was just as shocked as we all were to hear about John. He has been on my mind almost constantly since the news. I am sure that when we read of his passing, every single one of us immedaitly went back to our memories of him, Hopefully most of those memories were good ones. One of mine was a bit more painful, when he broke my nose during a boxing competition of the football playeres involving just one set of boxing gloves. Each player got one glove, I happen to end up with the left handed glove, John with the right, and with a distinct advantage. The ungloved hand had to stay behind your back during the competion. I dodged and weaved and ducked as best as I could, but he caught me with his left elbow and "Crack!!!" went my nose, fight over!! Everyone has mentioned how sweet and mindful he was, and I will agree! That night he called me up to check on me which was very nice of him. But he also just had to rub it in a bit during our conversation about his victory! "What a guy". Most of my other memories of him deal with football in one way or another. John, Hu Rhodes & I were all going to go to Lamar to play college football, and I was excited to start that next chapter. However, through the choices that we all make during our lives, John decided not to come to Lamar, and his life took off in another direction of his choosing. I lost contact with him after High school, but had the fortune of meeting up with him during one of my visits to San Antonio in preperation for the 40th reunion. It was great to see him, and we immediatly reconnected as if hardly any time had gone by at all. I got to hear him sing and play guitar one night at a local diner, & got to meet is son Jacob, and that was fun as well. He was a "one of a kind", a "hard as nails", loyal, kind, sweet man. My heart is still heavy with his loss. Rest in Peace my friend. You will be missed.
Terry Sulser (Fletcher)
I was so sorry to hear of John's passing. I always thought of him as a gentle giant ' that always had a kind word for everyone when they needed it most of all. He was in my home room for years through Garner and most of Mac (after moving back to S. A. for junior & senior years). I thought of Jonn as a natural leader among his many admirers (both male & female). May peace be with his family and friends.
Bill Liese
we all new Snider in many ways , I wanted to wait awhile before I posted anything,, there's a lot to say alot has been said. I reconnected with John about 2 yrs., ago , didn't miss a evening at Sandra cantina, listening to John music, πΆ,, I called John ,, The Music Man πΆ , he was good , he liked it, he was a good friend , still is , a great guy , my friend , John π?>/p>
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Judy Harris (Drott)
When I came to Mac as a freshman, I didn't know a sole. I had not gone to elementary or jr. high with any of my classmates - I was "brand new" to Mac. My father, Mr. Harris, was the principal at Coker Elementary school. He knew that the Coker kids would also be freshman at Mac, so he came with me to Mac for the freshman orientation so that he could introduce me to the Coker kids, and I would not feel so left out. One of the Coker kids he introduced me to was John, who was very kind to me throughout my 4 years at Mac. He always made a point to say Hi to me if we passed in the halls, even though we didn't have any classes together. I also remember watching John just run like crazy on the football field, he could really fly with that ball! and like others have mentioned,he always seemed to have a bandaid across his nose ! My thoughts go out to his family. Judy Harris (Drott)
Bill Liese
Still think of John,β. I do miss the drive to Sandra's Cantina , because I new I was going out to have a good time an to support an listen to some good country music, ,,, God Bless the Music ManπΆπΆ , an his family>>
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