Michelle "Shelley" A. Snedeker, Died June 7, 2017

Michelle A. Snedeker

Died June 7, 2017

TRAVERSE CITY — Michelle Anne Snedeker, 54, of Traverse City, passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2017 in her home of natural causes.

Shelley was born December 30, 1962 in Midland, Michigan, the daughter of John “Jack” Snedeker and Janet (Fischer) Snedeker.

She spent her school years in Freeland, Michigan with special friends that she always remembered, later pursuing the culinary arts in Midland and Saginaw areas.  Shelley worked at the Dow Corning cafeteria for many years.  She and her long-time companion, Bernie Coleman, enjoyed fishing, camping, and cooking great dishes, riding motorcycles, and visiting her family in the Leelanau area.

Shelley loved remembering earlier childhood days with all her siblings, some on the Manistee River, and always honed-in, with her uncanny memory, on some of the family highlights.  She loved recounting the time the boat motor, unsecured, fell off the loaded-with-kids boat.  She, looking around, in her dry unexcited manner, announced “Well, there goes the motor.” --To the bottom.  She was often packed with the rest into the VW bus on the way to skiing adventures in Northern Michigan.  Her softball days and various exploits in Freeland are recalled by her friends there and family too.  Shelley remembered every family get-together, every family member and all their “stories”, from close kin to extended.

“Shell” loved country music, especially Loretta Lynn.  The old-time vocalists, like Patsy Kline, "not the new Hollywood types."  Cats were a major component of Shelley’s life; "her girls” gave her much pleasure and comfort, and she had a big, soft heart for animals.  Muffy was her beloved constant companion.  They loved watching baby squirrels and birds from the windows of her condo in Traverse City.  She and her girls spent many hours watching Detroit Lions football and Tiger baseball, a true inheritance from her Snedeker grandparents.   She loved to cook, for family and friends, and always chose the family Mongolian Beef dish for her birthdays.  Her siblings recall many wonderful memories of their childhood adventures.

Shelley was a person of great gentleness and love, at the same time expressing herself with great original wit.  Her unique, funny expressions will long live in family and friends’ memories.  She was deeply sentimental and remembered those who she loved and cared for with great compassion.

Shelley is survived by her father and step-mother, Jack (Kathleen) Snedeker; her siblings, Brad Snedeker, Sara (Sandy) Gaulin and her step-sister and step-brother, Annie (Steve) Hoover, Chad Gardner; also by her beloved cat Muffy. 

She was preceded in death by her mother, Janet and her long-time companion, Bernie Coleman.

A celebration of Shelley’s life will be announced at a later date.  

Memorials may be directed to Cherryland Humane Society, 1750 Ahlberg Road, Traverse City, MI 49686.

Condolences and memories may be shared with Shelley’s family below: