Nellie Marie Snethen, age 87 of Joplin, MO, passed away 4:30 a.m. Friday, April 18, 2008 at a local health care center after a short illness. Born February 4, 1921 in Taylor County, IA, she was the daughter of the late Orie D. Mercer and Bessie M. (Curry) Mercer. She moved to Joplin in 1985, moving from Wichita, KS, where she had lived since 1957. Employed by the Wichita School System for over 22 years, she was head of the cafeteria meat department at Wichita High School West, where her husband also worked. She was a member of South Joplin Christian Church. She married Jack Elisha Snethen on August 2, 1941 in King City, MO.

Source: http://www.parkermortuary.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/10419/id/216395

Memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26119136

Nineteen Prepare Daily Meals (West Word, April 14, 1967)

During fourth hour, five days a week, approximately 1700 pupils and teachers use the facilities of the cafeteria.

A staff of nineteen women help to prepare these daily meals. Each lady is assigned to a certain category of food.

Mrs. Mayme Burnette is the manager of the cafeteria.

Mrs. Nellie Snethen is in charge of the meat department.

Mrs. Gwen Palmer is manager of pastries, with the assistance of Mrs. Irene Strubhar.

Rolls and bread are handled by Mrs. Lorena Frank.

Salads are prepared by Mrs. Myrtle Cox and sandwiches by Mrs. Opal Pinkstaff.

Mrs. Mayme Burnette orders a week’s supply food at the end of every week. The food is kept at a warehouse and stored in cold storage.

Menu for the school year is set up a year in advance by the cafeteria board. Then the menus are given to every school and the cooks follow it as closely as possible; alterations are allowed.

When Mrs. Burnette was asked about the quantity of food prepared daily in the cafeteria, she replied, “We sell around 1,300 cartons of white milk and 400 chocolate milk daily. In order to make 90 gallons of chili we use 180 pounds of hamburger. A thousand servings of meat loaf require 200 pounds of meat. When we serve beef burgers and wieners, we prepare 105 dozen each and we still run out. French fries, being one of the most popular foods, amount to 200 pounds of potatoes used in a day. Around 76 whole pies are also made daily.”

West’s cafeteria works as a non-profit organization.