Melinda Lou Snider

Melinda Lou Snider was born to C.D. and Betty Wright on December 18, 1958 in Heber Springs, Arkansas, and she stepped into the arms of her Savior on April 23, 2025 in her home with her husband and girls right by her side. Melinda’s final years were spent fighting her diagnosis, but, not for one day, did she allow that diagnosis to define her or to hold her back. She lived her life to the full, and she came alongside multitudes of friends, family members, and coworkers with that same motivation to love deeply and fiercely. Melinda was born and raised in the Rose Bud community alongside her brother and sister where she stayed busy learning all the tricks and tips in the kitchen, helping in the garden, attending any and every church service, and participating in many sports and school activities. She loved to join her family in singing and making music together, and every holiday and special occasion was spent alongside a great host of cousins which grew to become very dear friends. After graduating high school, she attended Ouachita Baptist University to further pursue her education and later transferred to nursing school at UAMS where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. As the years went by, James came onto the scene and her relationship with her childhood friend blossomed into a mutual love and affection for one another, and their 40-year love story became a beautiful masterpiece of loyalty, friendship, and sincere adoration of one another. Together they served in their local church for many decades as leaders and teachers and fostered an infectious passion for Jesus. They were blessed with two precious daughters who were their pride and joy, and the feeling was mutual. Melinda poured herself out each and every day to ensure that her girls were well loved and cared for, and there was never a moment that passed by in which they doubted that she had their back. The legacy that the Lord began weaving into existence within Melinda in her early years continually grew and led her to proudly take on many titles such as a skilled registered nurse practitioner, a devoted wife, a beloved mother, a fun-loving Ninna, and eventually one of the most treasured titles of all: a Mammy. She was there from day one in the lives of her grandchildren, and the bond that she built and nurtured with her babies across the years of ballparks and beach vacations and card games and road trips will forever be cherished. Melinda’s nursing career was rich with friendship and heartfelt devotion to both her coworkers and her patients. When she wasn’t doting on her family, she was attending to the needs of her colleagues at all the hospitals and clinics in which she served throughout her many years of nursing. To know her was to value and adore her, and she was everyone’s favorite person. Melinda was preceded in death by her father, C.D. Wright, and her mother, Betty Holland Wright. She is survived by her husband, James Snider; daughters Mallory Hudson (David) and Macie Snider; grandchildren Avi and Guthrie Green, Max Hudson; sister, Diane Moody (Mike); brother Eddie Wright (Brenda); sisters-in-law Audrey Humphreys (Chris), Linda Archer (Charlie), and Julie Ramsey (Scott); sister-cousin Susan Belew; nieces and nephews Bruce Wright (Kirsten), Delta Wright, Whitney Miller (Chuck), Molley Davidson (Asa), Alyssa Roper (Chris), Christa Baine (Dylan), Brianne LaCour (Andrew), Braden Archer, Trey Turner, Rose Whitley (Andrew), Isaac Turner, Mason Archer, and Aidan (Ale) Ramsey; a host of great nieces/nephews; and her best golden girl - Emmie Lou. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude and appreciation to Arkansas CARTI, specifically Dr. Rhonda Gentry, and Arkansas Hospice for their genuine love and concern for Melinda throughout her journey with glioblastoma. Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 3:30pm, at Rose Bud First Baptist Church in the Family Life Center. Visitation will precede the service, beginning at 2:00pm. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Rose Bud. Arrangements are entrusted to Powell Funeral Home of Searcy. www.powellfuneralhome.net

Melinda Lou Snider

December 18, 1958 - April 23, 2025