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 Melanie Olsen Snyder born in Provo, Utah on August 18, 1971 to Phil A. and Judy Olsen Passed away October 14, 2007, in the Gunnison Valley Hospital following a courageous battle with cancer.
When she was about four the family moved to Fayette where she spent most of her childhood and attended Gunnison Elementary and Gunnison Valley High School. In 1986 the family move to Southern Utah where Melanie graduated from Hurricane High School.
She had several very close friends from Hurricane. While in school she took a part time job cleaning the Hurricane Post Office. She was a hard worker and got a lot of compliments on what a good job she did.
Melanie attended Dixie College where in her Institute class she met her future husand, Quinn Snyder of St. George. For a while she worked as an aid for a professor and graduated with her Associates of Science Degree. She also worked at Cameo Florist while attending Dixie College.
Quinn and Melanie were married on June 15, 1991 in the St. George temple. Their first child, Ashley, was born in 1993. Soon after, they moved to Cedar City where their family grew. Kelly was born 1996, Natalie 1998, and Julie 2001.
Melanie loved her children and enjoyed being a stay at home mom. She was one hundred percent devoted to them. In the summer of 2006 they decided they wanted to raise their family in a small town and moved to Gunnison with plans to build a house in Fayette. Shortly after tehy moved, it was discovered she had cancer. She met the challenge with faith and tried to overcome it but accepted with grace Heavenly Father's plane for her.
She is survived by her husband, Quinn Snyder, Fayette; children, Ashley, Kelly, Natalie and Julie Snyder Fayette; parents, Phil and Judy Olsen, Hurricane; brothers and sisters, Debbie (Craig) Leavitt, Hurricane; Janeal (Shane) Jones, St. George; JoAnna Strong, Washington; Aaron (Jenn) Olsen, St. George; and Jeffrey (Jenny) Olsen, Orem.
Taken from a talk by Melanie Oliphant Barlow at Melanie Olsen Snyder's funeral:
Mel loved to play pranks on friends; theis was always a favorite of hers, the harmless kind of things like toilet papering a house in the middle of the night and then hiding in the bushes to avoid the cars passing by that might see. We did this more than once too.
I do remember one time we snuck out of a party at her house and attacked the truck that was sitting out front really well with toilet paper, Oreo’s and stuff. I can think of a few times we attacked friends lockers at school but they always come back to get you later, we shared a locker for years and this happened many times.
Our pranks were never as much fun though unless we could claim them. My name is Melanie too so we came up with our trade mark, a bag of M&M's, to mark our master pieces.
Melanie gave me a shirt some years ago for my birthday. She found one that said, “The only thing better than a good friend is a good friend with a bag of M&M’s” I have never been able to see a bag without thinking of her.
Melanie and her children playing in the sand
Melanie & her daughter finding fossils
Melanie, Quinn, Kelly, Julie, Natalie and Ashley
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Michele Wilcox (Tisdale)
Melaine, was such an awesome friend. I am everyday greatful she was a part of my life. She put a couragous fight against cancer and sadly lost the battle. I remember after high school My husband and I set her up on a date with one of my husband best friends from high school, and the last we heard the date did not go well, in fact she really didn't like him. Much to our surprise 6 months later they anounced their engagement. weird eh. melaine we love and miss you much!Carri Ruesch (Mason)
Melanie and I became friends towards the end of our Senior year. We had a lot of fun together. My favorite memory of her is this: After having a fun night out on the town, I would drive her home to her parent's house in Hurricane. Rather than going inside, we would sit in the car and talk, for hours sometimes, about life and the gospel. (I know! It's one of those things where you had to be there to appreciate it.) But it really is my very favorite memory of her. Later, she and I shared an apartment in St. George with two other girls. Our college days were so much fun! Late nights talking on our bunk bed, our blood donation disaster (Tip: Never wear white when donating blood!), locking ourselves out of our apartment, attending Institute together, driving to California. When she got married, I threw her a Bridal Shower and then I moved to Phoenix. She always sent me a birthday card. Always! I got my last one from her just a few weeks before she died. She was the truest friend I've ever had. Oh! And her laugh! I hope to never forget that laugh! She was a great influence for good in my life - so selfless and spiritual. I miss you, Mel, and look forward to seeing you again one day. We have a lot of catching up to do.....Lisa Anderson (Aroca)
What a beautiful family and I so enjoyed reading all about Melanie's life. I know that her family and friends miss her very much, I will also think of her now when I see a bag of M&Ms.Thank you so much for sharing, May God Bless the loved ones she left behind.
-Lisa