Verla Joanne (Lindsley) Snowbarger

Verla Joanne (Lindsley) Snowbarger, age 85, of Big Bow, Kansas, died August 28, 2022, at Western Prairie Senior Living Community in Ulysses, Kansas. She was born on May 13, 1937, in Stanton County, Kansas, the daughter of Dorel P. and Evelyn M. (Herrick) Lindsley.

Joanne grew up in Stanton County and graduated from High School there. She then attended Bethany Nazarene College, (now Southern Nazarene University), and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics. After college she taught Home Economics for two years in Agra, Kansas. She married Ronald Snowbarger on September 16, 1961. They lived in El Paso, Texas, for a year as Ron finished his military service before returning to Stanton County. She taught second grade for one year at Big Bow Elementary School before she stopped teaching to start a family. She had a great love for her children and made it a priority to be at most all the activities that they were involved in. She also had a great love for all of her grandchildren and cherished each one dearly.

Joanne was passionate about her gardening and especially enjoyed tending her flowerbeds that contained over 500 different varieties of Iris. She was a member of the Garden City Iris Club. She also loved doing crossword puzzles, collecting clowns and carousel horses. She especially loved her cats which brought her great joy.

She was a member of Bethel Church of the Nazarene where she served in many different positions including teaching the young married Sunday school class and was on the mission’s council. Joanne loved reading Christian literature. Often times she would share some of her favorite poetry, prose, and other writings as part of the worship services.

For the last ten years she struggled greatly against the dementia that tried to rob her of her spirit. But Joanne fought valiantly all the way to the end and was known for her joy, laughter, and care that she expressed to everyone as she would say, “I love you – I love you – I love you!”

Survivors include her husband, Ronald of their home; children, Tanya Frees of Omro, Wisconsin, Theron Snowbarger and wife Dina, of St. Louis, Missouri, Merwyn Snowbarger of Johnson; and Amber Harrell and husband Randall of Cedar Park, Texas; brothers, David Lindsley of Tucson, Arizona and Dale Lindsley and wife Linda of Hutchinson, Kansas; six grandchildren, Christopher Frees, Alyssa Meier and husband Bret, Ashley Weaver and husband Brendon, Chance Harrell and wife Staci, Vanessa Krause and husband Benjamin, and Phillip Snowbarger, and two great-grandchildren, Malakhi and Eliyah Weaver.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Dorel and Evelyn Lindsley; son-in-law, Tom Frees; and brother, Charles Lindsley.

Funeral service will be Friday, September 2, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Bethel Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Paul Shellenberger officiating. Interment will follow at the Stanton County Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to the Bethel Church of the Nazarene for Missions in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 715, Johnson, KS 67855. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.