Obituary of Tam Snyder

Tam Snyder, 85, of Monroe, tough as nails, passed on Monday morning, October 8, 2018 at the Togus Springs VA Hospice Unit, with his youngest daughter by his side. Tam was born in and spent his first years in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee before moving to and growing up in Toughkenomen in (then rural Chester County) Pennsylvania. Influenced greatly by his birthplace, Tam started hunting at 5 using a sling shot, bow, traps, and eventually rifles, eating or selling everything he bagged. He always said he loved spending summers in NC with his grandmother, Molly, because she would cook anything he brought home, as long as it wasn’t her pet black snake. Tam graduated from Kennett Square High School in 1951 and served in the Army from 1953 to 1955, making the rank of Sergeant on the front lines of Korea assigned to the Wolfhounds of the 27th Infantry Division. His service to his country inspired his daughter Lisa to also serve for over 26 years. Tam worked for Cianbro, was a longshoreman in Searsport, constable and selectman in Jackson, farmer and building contractor after moving to Maine in the fifties with his lifelong friend and hunting buddy, Bill Nunn. A talented carpenter, especially skilled in cabinetry, he built and remodeled many homes around Waldo County, building his own from the ground up only 10 years ago! But all work stopped when it came to hunting season, especially deer and bear seasons. He hunted and fished all over the state, from the Western Mountains to the Eastern border with Canada with many friends and family members, inspiring and mentoring future outdoorsmen along the way. He helped build the Kachook Archery Range with his fellow archers in Jackson, including Norman Jolliffe, who he later started a bear hunting guide service with in northern Washington County in the 70s and 80s. Of all his endeavors, Tam was most proud of being a registered Master Maine Guide for over 50 years. Tam was excitedly preparing for one last moose hunt with his daughter, Tammy, and extended family including sons of family friend and former hunting partner Reg Mitchell, Aaron and Kirk Mitchell, special protégé and cousin Matthew Snyder, with whom he had hunted for many years, and grandson of his oldest friend, Will Nunn, when, on the morning they were to leave for camp, he decided to head for the happy hunting grounds in the sky instead and thereby let one moose roam another day in the woods of Washington County that he loved so much. Tam was predeceased by his daughter Vickie, son Keith, his wife Linda, parents John Earl and Venton, and older sister, Juanita Johnson of Toughkenomen, PA . He is survived by his daughter COL (Ret) Lisa Snyder-Hendrix of San Antonio, TX, her husband, Elijah and children Anthony, Biyanca, Niyaa and Travon; daughter Tammy Snyder Maseychik and husband Christopher of Northport; and Keith’s son, Zayne Snyder of North Carolina, Maine and now Texas. A special thank you to the VA (Togus), Maine Healthcare at Home staff and the Maine Cancer Center for their awesome care and helping him surprise us all with another 14 months of life. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, October 28, at Tam’s home in Monroe at 1 pm. Please join family and friends in sharing your favorite hunting story during the Sunday of opening weekend of deer season (on Sunday because we wouldn’t DREAM of taking anyone out of the hunt!). Call or text Tammy with any questions or for directions at 930-0286.