Ed Sneed

(From Ulmer Funeral Home)

Edward Montee Sneed, 90, of Carthage, MO, passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, MO.

Ed was born near Girard KS on April 29, 1932, to Everett Sneed and Anna Myrtle Stevens Sneed

Ed was the next to youngest of five boys and three girls: James Sneed, Clarence Sneed, Louise Sneed Granneman, Everett Sneed, Wilma Sneed Ragonese, Earl Sneed, and Edith Sneed Long. All of his siblings preceded him in death.

He attended school at Girard, KS, and Mindenmines, MO then transferred to Jasper, MO to finish high school

Ed worked during high school at the IGA grocery store in Jasper. A clerk at the store, Ruth, said she was attracted to his “sparkling” brown eyes and admired him for standing up for what was right and not going along with the crowd.

Following graduation, he served two years in the army at Fort Sill, OK, as a Physical Training Instructor, Staff Sergeant.

Ed married his high school sweetheart, Winifred Ruth Scott, on May 2, 1954, at the Jasper Methodist Church after he served in the army. They had four children: Montee, Vicki, Michael, and Steven.

He developed a strong work ethic as a young boy with jobs ranging from working in a grocery store, to delivering milk and to selling Saturday Evening Posts.

His jobs included heavy construction with Snyder Construction, sales with Thomas Fruit company, a sales manager with Leggett & Platt, owner and operator of Ed’s Skelly Station, and ended his career as a furniture manufacturer representative for several companies including Schneider Furniture, Sunline Furniture and Coolbrooke.

Good customer service and sales were major skills Ed practiced in several of his jobs. As a furniture sales representative, it was common practice for him to sell Ruth’s sofas out of their family room and living room. His children were taught those values during lengthy dinner conversations.

He retired in 1994, but his selling techniques didn’t as dinner guests were often offered the “freshest or best” dishes prepared from his garden produce. A meal was generally followed by an offer of a toothpick and chewing gum.

He filled his retirement with a big garden which fed the neighborhood, woodworking, penmaking, and knife collecting.

Ed had a passion for hunting doves, quail, and ducks. He also liked trap shooting, skeet shooting and sporting clays. He shared his enthusiasm and knowledge as a hunter education instructor for Missouri Department of Conservation for more than 30 years.

Ed had a beautiful voice, developed throughout his life. He had a great capacity to remember words and melodies of songs. It was not uncommon to launch into a love ballad for Ruth, which always brought a smile. Later in life he sang with the Tri-County Statesmen barbershop chorus.

Ed was a 32nd Degree – Scottish Rite. He was a 50-year Mason and a Pastmaster.

He was a member of the American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his wife Winifred Ruth Scott Sneed. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Montee and Anne Sneed of Columbia, TN; Brent and Vicki Hillsman of Schell City, MO; Michael Sneed of Carthage, Steven and Karen Sneed of Norman, OK; his grandchildren and their spouses, Alice and Andrew Miller of Hoover, AL, Tyler and Lori Hillsman of Kansas City, MO, Thomas and Courtney Sneed, Columbia, TN, Matthew Hillsman of Kansas City, MO, Cameron Thompson of Moore, OK and Cayton Thompson of Moore, OK; Ed’s great grandchildren, Ellie and Arlo Hillsman of Kansas City, MO, Sadie Ruth, Molly, and Eliza Miller of Hoover, AL and Patrick and Dorothy Sneed of Columbia, TN.

Services for Edward Montee Sneed will be 2 p.m. Saturday, December 3, 2022, at Ulmer Funeral Home in Carthage, Missouri. A visitation will be held Friday evening, December 2, 2022, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Burial will follow the service at Park Cemetery in Carthage, Missouri.

Ed’s family wish to recognize and thank the staff of Oak Pointe Assisted Living in Carthage for their care and thoughtfulness.

Memorials may be sent to Mt. Moriah United Methodist Church in care of Ulmer Funeral Home.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Ulmer Funeral Home.