Donald Louis Snavely, 79

Donald Louis Snavely, age 79 died in Hayden, Idaho April 11, 2014.

He was born January 16, 1935 in Denison, Texas to Gladys “Marie” (Wilson) Snavely and Arvel “Montye” Snavely.  His family, including his maternal grandmother Mary "Ella" Price Wilson, moved to Compton, California the same year he was born.  Don graduated from Compton High School at age 16 and drove to South America with his friend Darryl Powell.  The two adventurous teens returned to California via a freighter and then after buying another Jeep, drove along the then primitive Alcan Highway to Alaska. 

Two weeks before his seventeenth birthday, Don joined the Navy and served as a cryptographer during the Korean War. He married his first wife Diane Tavis when he returned from active duty.  Married and soon father of two children, he worked full time for Exxon on the oil rigs at night. Always a hard worker, Don went to college during the day and earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in business at Long Beach State. 

Don and Diane later divorced and Don married Peggy Baker Labagnara. She was widowed with a young daughter, Lisa. When Don and Peggy divorced several years later, Lisa stayed to live with Don.

An active volunteer, Don served in the Compton Rotary Club, Compton and Redlands Chambers of Commerce, Compton City Council, Selective Service Board, and the United Way. He also ran for California State Representative. Most recently, he was a board member and treasurer for Congregation Emanu-El in Spokane, Washington and volunteer for Kootenai Humane Society in Hayden, Idaho. 

Don was in the car business for most of his working career, starting as a lot boy at age eight in his father’s agency.  As an adult he was an Edsel, then Dodge car dealer first in Compton and later in Redlands, California. Don then returned to school and became a Certified Public Accountant and worked for the Bankruptcy Courts in California for two years, before returning to the car business.  It is fortunate that Don preferred the car business, because in 1987 he met his future wife Fran when she bought a car.  They married less than a year later. In 2004 Don moved to beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho after he and his wife retired.

Don leaves behind his beloved wife of 26 years Frances I. Davis Snavely. He is also survived by children - son Todd Miles Snavely, Sr. and daughters Kimberly Dawn (Corrigan) Van Alstine and Lisa Jeanette Snavely, stepsons Anthony Osumi (wife Jenni Kuida) and Christopher Osumi (wife Nina Villa Osumi).  He is also survived by ten grandchildren (Todd Miles Snavely, Jr., Dustin Snavely, Jonathan (wife Tamela) Corrigan, Nancy (husband Keith, Sr.) Bosher, Scott Lindo Jr., Kendra Snavely, Hannah Snavely, and three step-grandchildren Danika Osumi, Christopher Chonan Osumi, and Maiya Kuida-Osumi, and four great-grand children (Keegan Corrigan, Riley Corrigan, Keith Bosher, Jr., and Melinda Bosher). Don also leaves behind his canine kids Sadie, Bobbie, Tito, Magillicutty, and London.

Donald is preceded in death by his parents, second wife Peggy, and his only sibling, Montye Marie Lawrence. 

Per Don’s request there will be no public service.  For those wanting to give a donation in remembrance, the family suggests Kootenai Humane Society at Post Office Box 1005, Hayden, Idaho 83835.