Dale Snipes, 88

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Dale Snipes. Daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She passed away Oct. 11, 2026, at the age of 88, after a prolonged illness.

Dale was born Dale Clement on Oct. 23, 1937, to Lloyd and Bertha Clement, in Los Angeles, Calif. She was named after her mother’s good friend, Dale Evans (wife of Roy Rogers). She was a curious, outgoing child who loved being with her dad, with whom she learned to build, hunt, fish and fix the car. She also inherited her mother’s love of horses and gardening.

At the age of 5, she “survived” the “Battle of Los Angeles” in 1942. Her father was a civil defense warden and ran the Santa Monica Ballroom through WWII. Her mom was a schoolteacher for the County of Los Angeles.

She spent her young years riding horses all over the area with her sister and friends. Then in 1955, at a USO dance, she met a dashing young seaman named John Cox. Their shared love of horses brought them together and they were married shortly after. Out of this union came three daughters. But after 14 years, she divorced and raised three children on her own. Her love of the outdoors and horses kept her going, and she passed that love on to her girls.

In 1970, she met and married Alvin Snipes, who worked for AT&T and had three boys of his own. They blended their families and moved the whole crew to Sandpoint in 1971, where they rented an 80-acre ranch. She taught the kids how to work, produce and preserve their own food. She also taught the boys how to ride horses and hunt. She encouraged the kids to join 4-H, scouts, sports and volunteering. She also started driving a school bus.

In ’74, the family bought property on Rapid Lightning, where they built a home. She and Alvin became involved in developing and promoting alcohol fuels. But she continued to drive a school bus until Alvin contracted cancer and passed in 1989. Before he passed, he set up Dale and his brother Walter.

Dale spent five years in California with Walter and realized her dream of being in the movies. She met many notables like Hulk Hogan, Bruce Willis, William Shatner and Wesley Snipes, who began calling her “mom.”

In 1993, she and Walter moved back to Sandpoint where they bought property on Whisky Jack and built yet another home. Inspired by her time in Hollywood, she started a casting and location service, supplying local talent for movies such as Dances with Wolves and Dante’s Peak.

Sadly, once again she found herself alone in 2004, when Walter passed.

She spent her last few years with her boyfriend, Jerry, who also passed away.

Dale was blessed to have a life full of love, family and adventure. She drove race cars, worked as a waitress, drove a school bus, a catering truck, wrote several books and appeared in several movies.

Dale was preceded in death by her father, Lloyd Clement; mother Bertha Clement; spouses John Cox, Alvin Snipes and Walter Snipes; partner Jerry Justis; and sister Shirley Domes.

Dale is survived by her daughters, Diana McDowell, Carolyn Abbott and Debby Warner. Grandchildren: Christopher, Marika, Elizabeth, Marcia, Monica and Samantha. Great-grandchildren: Tristan, Amanda, William, Erin, Johnny, Arianna, Olivia, Lilly, Zoey and Kylynn.

Family and friends are invited to sign Dale’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com. Coffelt Funeral Service is handling arrangements.