Eunice Mary (Snyder) (Melby) Small
Eunice Mary (Snyder) (Melby) Small, died on Sept. 11, 2007, at home with her family. Eunice fought a courageous battle with brain cancer, as she did with everything she faced in her life, never giving up to the end.
Born Dec. 30, 1929, in Eau Claire, Wis., to Dewey William and Nora Caroline (Ross) Snyder, Eunice attended schools in Eau Claire, graduating from Eau Claire Senior High School in 1947.
Eunice married Robert Clark Ada Melby on Sept. 17, 1949; divorcing him in 1959.
Eunice married William 'Willie' W. Small on Jan. 1, 1964, moving to Whitefish at that time. They were instrumental in helping start the First Baptist Church of Whitefish, donating the property for the first church building.
Eunice worked as a meat wrapper at Safeway in Whitefish, then in the new Kalispell store.
Her hobbies were crocheting, making so many beautiful afghans for her friends and loved ones; and baby afghans for all; ceramics, making prize-winning pieces that she enjoyed giving to anyone who admired them; shopping and thrift 'saling' with her friend, Lois, and lunching and breakfast with her at Syke's.
Eunice was a loving mom and grandma to her family, with a witty sense of humor that kept everyone wondering. She always had a story to tell, never shy about giving advice to anyone she thought needed it; a strong, loving, gentle, loyal example to all who knew and loved her. She was a dedicated Witness to Jehovah, serving him in every chance she had.
Eunice (Mom, Grandma) will be missed by her entire family.
She is survived by her youngest son, Kenneth Melby, of Kalispell; her daughter, Barbara Kramer-Jarvar and Stan Jarvar, of Kalispell; Barb's children, Eunie's beloved grandkids, Robert Joseph Kramer, his children, Ashley, Alexis, Autumn, Kyle and Isabel, all of Cornell, Wis., Royanna Eunice Miller and Steve Thiessen of Portland, Garrett William Kramer, Minette Lee Kramer, Kendrick Ray Kramer and Mackenzie Aaron Kramer; her adopted grandchildren, Walter Carl Higginson and Shayla Mathieson, and adopted son, Don Stubbs, all of Kalispell.
She was preceded in death by her beloved first-born son, Steven Robert Melby, on July 21, 2007; her son-in-law, Frederick R. Kramer, in 1995; her first husband, Robert C.A. Melby, in 1996; her second husband and best friend, William 'Willie' Small, in 1999; and her beloved mom and dad, Dewey William and Nora Caroline (Ross) Snyder.
Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, located on Woodland Drive in Kalispell. A joint memorial for Eunice and her son, Steve, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 20, at the First Baptist Church of Whitefish, located at 6232 U.S. 93, Whitefish.