Marilyn Priest

With a smile on her face as she met her Lord and Savior, Marilyn "Snooky" Priest, 89, of Jackson passed away Sunday, June 21, 2020, at Lutheran Home Assisted Living East.

Marilyn Priest

She was born Nov. 25, 1930, in Jackson to Leonard and Edna Birk Grossheider. She and Paul Priest were married June 28, 1948, in Osceola, Arkansas. Five daughters were born to their union: Pam, Paula, Pat, Penny and Para. They had enjoyed 43 beautiful years together when Paul passed away Dec. 7, 1991.

Snooky was a 1948 graduate of Jackson High School, where she was active in band, served as a class officer and participated in drama club. She was a member of the band, when under the direction of Leroy Mason, Jackson hosted the first band festival. While raising her daughters, she was very active in Jackson Band Boosters, serving as president and chairing the drive for new uniforms. She was an accomplished seamstress and was always willing to tackle any alteration on a band uniform. One of her proudest accomplishments was that she made the original Indian uniforms for the band. She was especially proud to have made all of her daughters' prom gowns and lots of dresses for Easter and Christmas.

Snooky was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, also the church of her baptism and confirmation, and formerly served on the Concordia Guild. She especially enjoyed Saints Alive.

Snooky avidly supported Paul in all of his equine endeavors, and together, they enjoyed many rides with the Jackson Trail Riders. Her other affiliations include the local Multiple Sclerosis Society and Jackson Young Homemakers Club, and serving as a leader in the Jolly 4-H Club in Jackson.

Snooky worked at Jackson Hosiery Mill, was a unit secretary for the surgery department at Southeast Hospital and retired from the office of Drs. G.R. Weeks and J.K. Essmyer in 1978, while also selling Tupperware in the evenings.

Loving survivors include daughters, Pam (the late Steve) Whaley of Jackson, Paula (Terry) Kurre of Franklin, Tennessee, and Para (Jeff) Snyder of Phoenix; a son-in-law, Gary (the late Penny) Leirer of Springfield, Missouri; grandchildren, Todd Whaley (Patti Dohogne) of Jackson, Teresa (Bobby) Blessing and Mandy Withrow of Perryville, Missouri, Erika (Bryan) Nash of Franklin, Katherine (Robert) Meyers of Trumbull, Connecticut, Amber (John) Hoffstetter of Kansas City, Missouri, Samantha (Dustin) Harris of Evansville, Indiana, Blake (Jessica) Snyder of Phoenix, Paul (Kylie) Snyder of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Tristin Snyder of Phoenix and Cameron Snyder of Phoenix; and great-grandchildren, Quinn, Jaxon and Owen Snyder, Coraline and Elias Hoffstetter, Luca and Havalee Nash, Faith and Epiphany Meyers, Taylor (Floyd) Cox, Tyson Whaley, Iliza, Waylon and Lara Withrow, Cody (Kylie) Blessing, Robert Blessing and Nick (Victoria) Blessing; great-great-grandson, Tre Cox; and a very dear friend, David Hunt of Jackson.

She was preceded in death by her husband; two daughters, Pat Agnew and Penny Leirer; son-in-law, Steve Whaley; sister, Betty Meier; and her parents.

Snooky considered the staff of Lutheran Home Assisted Living East to be her second family. Her daughters are eternally grateful for the loving care they extended to their mother the past four years. At Assisted Living East, she came to be affectionately known the "little spark plug," and many months, she was also the bingo champ.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

Funeral will be at noon Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Joshua Schmidt officiating. Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1867 Lackland Hill Parkway, St. Louis, MO 63146, or St. Paul Lutheran Church, 223 W. Adams St., Jackson, MO 63755.

Arrangements were by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the tribute wall of Marilyn's personal obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.