Joyce Jeanine (Mesler) Snapp

Joyce Mesler Snapp

     We are sad to announce that Joyce Snapp, of Hagerman, Idaho, passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at North Canyon Hospital in Gooding, Idaho.

     Joyce was born in Lexington, Nebraska, on September 13, 1935. Her parents, Homer L. and Marvel Medley Mesler, were overjoyed with this daughter, and gave her the name of Joyce Jeanine Mesler. Joyce lived in a number of places besides Nebraska as a child, specifically, Kansas; Colorado; Caldwell, Idaho; and Baker, Oregon. Joyce, an only child, was raised by loving parents who were very proud of their daughter, and who helped her to develop her talents which were concentrated in music.

     Joyce began playing piano at 6 years of age. Her favorite instruments to play over the years became Piano, Organ, and strangely enough, Cornet. When Joyce became a Public School Music teacher, she eventually taught all instruments except violin, and she taught and directed choirs. Several churches in the Hagerman Valley benefited from Joyce’s talent as an organist and as a singer.

     Joyce attended a year of school at Willamette University, before entering the College of Idaho and graduating in 1957, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education. Following her graduation, Joyce taught three years of elementary school Orchestra in Caldwell, Idaho, then two years in Hepner, Oregon. Upon returning to Idaho, she worked in music stores and taught Music in Richfield. In 1963, Joyce moved to Hagerman, Idaho, to teach Choir and Band at Hagerman High School.

     In 1963, Joyce met an elementary school teacher named Billy Snapp. Her friends and his friends got them together to go bowling. That event became the start of something big for them. Joyce and Bill were married on August 19, 1964, in Logan, Utah, where they continued to work on their Masters Degrees at Utah State University in the summers of 1965 and 1966. Their first home together in Hagerman was a cabin on the river by the bridge. Romantic. They lived there two years. Joyce and Bill enjoyed many activities besides bowling. Joyce even liked a little hunting and fishing with Bill, usually at Anderson Ranch Dam. They also enjoyed going to movies, watching TV, listening to beautiful music, learning about antiques, and socializing with friends.

     In 1966, Joyce and Bill bought a 20-acre property by the cemetery in Hagerman. The house was pleasant with big trees for shade, and farm land where they grew watermelons and pastured horses for thirty years. In 1996, they moved to Joyce’s last home. It was on 1050 East in Hagerman and offered a regular view of frolicking horses and “oreo” cows.

     Besides music, animals were a great love of Joyce’s. She and Bill enjoyed horses (especially a little filly named Stormy), neighborhood ducks, many Siamese cats, but Joyce especially loved her dogs. Over the years, she had a Kerry Blue Terrier, a West Island Terrier (Paddy-Wagon), three Brittany Spaniels (Jake, Mindy, Buddy), two Scotties, one Westy, and then her final love - Sally (a mix of Dachshund and Miniature Australian Shepherd) who never wanted to leave her side.

     Joyce retired from the School District in 1976, but stayed busy teaching private music lessons and volunteering for the Historical Society. After Joyce had taught music for a total of 44 years, she was tired and thought she had done enough teaching. Then, she and Bill spent their time enjoying each other, their friends, and going to the Snake River Grill for many breakfasts and dinners.

     Joyce is survived by her husband of fifty-eight years - Bill Snapp; her sister-in-law - Ardena Snapp (Rupert); cousins - Dennis Mesler (Boise) and Karen Wyatt (Arizona); niece-in-law - Sheryl Riding (West Jordan, Utah); Susan Hunsaker (Rigby); nephews-in-law - Jay Snapp (Springville, Utah), Gary Craner (Boise), Calvin Craner (Idaho Falls), Steven Snapp (Bellevue) and Larry Snapp (Denver, Colorado).

     Besides her parents, Joyce was preceded in death by: her sisters-in-law - Nan Craner and Ina Anderson; and her brothers-in-law - Robert Snapp and Gene Snapp.

     Special appreciation is extended to all those who loved and cared for Joyce, especially Rosario & Roman Martinez, Jennifer Cortez, Pat and Robin Windes, Suzanne Perron, Craig and Kathy Laughlin, and the entire staff of Snake River Grill.     

     A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., with a prior visitation at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at the United Methodist Church, 270 Salmon Street East, Hagerman, Idaho.

    Funeral services are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel.

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