Norma Sue ‘Pokey’ Gibbs Snider Oakley
Norma Sue “Pokey” Gibbs Snider Oakley, 79, of Burnet died Aug. 11, 2012. She was born in Burnet on Dec. 3, 1932, to Asa Meredith Gibbs and Nannie Kate (McFarlin) Gibbs.
She was mainly raised in Burnet, where she lived most of her life. She was proud to be descended from parents who were from families deeply rooted in Burnet County for several generations. She was a dedicated wife, mother, homemaker and retired real-estate broker.
She attended Burnet schools and graduated with the Class of 1950. She was popular with her friends and participated in many school activities, was drum major in the high school band and was once voted Harvest Queen.
She attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, where she made the Dean’s List and later met and married Marion Loren “M.L.” Snider, a cattleman and herdsman on the Murchison Ranch, also called the Honkey B Ranch, just south of Burnet.
They later moved to East Texas, where her husband was a ranch manager and herdsman in Clarksville. In 1962, her husband and other owners and investors of the ranch were killed in a private airplane crash while returning from a cattle auction in Louisiana.
She returned to Burnet with her three young children, Eddie, Sue and Alan, to be near family.
In 1963, she married local pharmacist Roy H. Oakley, a native of Lampasas, and before long, she gave birth to sons George and James. After her children were raised and after he retired and sold the family drug store, A&O Pharmacy, the couple spent time traveling and enjoying gatherings with family and friends.
She was a longtime member of Epsilon Pi Sorority and always looked forward to playing in her bridge club.
She enjoyed cooking, caring for family and friends and raising plants and flowers.
She professed a strong belief in God and instilled the same in her children. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Burnet, where she sang in the choir and took part in her children’s church activities. She constantly thought of others and was considerate of the concerns and issues of her family and friends, even during the days before her death.
Survivors include husband Roy; daughter Sue Brunson and husband Doug of Burnet; sons Eddie Snider and wife Cynthia Ross, Alan Snider and wife Kathy, George Oakley and wife Tammye, all of Burnet, and James Oakley and wife Julie of Spicewood; grandchildren Emily King, Rebecca Snider, Jason Ross, Jaclyn Ross, Kelly Brunson, Kyle Brunson, Sean Snider, Samantha Snider, Danielle Oakley, Gavin Oakley, Phoebe Oakley, Ainsley Oakley, Keegan Oakley and Hannah and Aaron Marks; great-grandchildren Cal King and Cooper King; sister Nancy and husband Dale Petty of Burnet; brother-in-law Dr. Winfield P. Betty and wife Kathleen of San Antonio; sister-in-law Annette Snider of Whitewright; and nieces Sarah Hyde, Nancy Stricker and Kathy Smith.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; sister Patsy Betty; and nephew Bill Hyde.
A visitation is 6 p.m. Aug. 13 at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 306 Texas 29 East in Burnet, (512) 756-2222. A funeral service is 10 a.m. Aug. 14 at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Ricky Guenther officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Lake Victor. Pallbearers include sons Eddie, Alan, George and James; son-in-law Doug; grandsons Kyle and Sean; and great-nephew Dane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hill Country Community Foundation or an organization of choice.
A guest register may be signed at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.