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Don Synder Has Left Us - He will be missed!


I am sorry to report that our great friend and avid Massey collector, Don Snyder passed away suddenly on Wednesday evening, December 9, 2015.  Don was one of the founding fathers of the Massey Collectors Association and the Friends of Massey Chapter in Pennsylvania.

Don guided and directed the development of MCA and was a mentor for many of us as we continue to help MCA grow.  He also was the guiding light to develop the Massey Exhibition of North America Selection Committee and served on that committee in its formative years.  Don coined the phrase “Old Masseys Collect the Nicest People” that is used throughout the MCA family. 

Because of his leadership and dedication to the Massey collecting hobby, Don was one of the first members inducted into the Massey Hall of Fame,

If there was a Massey event, you would find Don in attendance.  He had no problems traveling long distances to be with Massey people!  It was always an adventure for him and Sherry.  He loved the Massey tractors, but more importantly he loved the people who collected them! He always had a smile on his face and soft spoken voice, but a firm delivery when he was passionate about an issue.  He was a wealth of knowledge and did not hesitate to share that knowledge with those interested.  Don, more than any one individual, did more for MCA and the Massey family.  He saw the potential and made every effort to bring like-minded people together for the betterment of the Massey collecting world and for the betterment of the individuals.

I would not be afraid to call Don Synder the “father of Massey Collecting.”  There have been other Massey collectors go before him but Don brought the spirit of collecting, and the people who do it, together.

He will be sorely missed by all of the Massey community and the people he has brought together into this collecting hobby.

Rest in Peace, my friend, you have left your mark on us all !

Your Freind,

Gary T. Emsweller
 

Please see Don’s obituary listed below:


Donald B. Snyder, 81, of 86 William St., Muncy, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015.

He was born Aug. 21, 1934, in Watsontown, a son of the late Wilbur and Goldie (Beaver) Snyder. On June 26, 1954, he married the former Sherry L. Kelley who survives. Together they celebrated 61 years of marriage.

Donald was a 1952 graduate of Watsontown High School. He served in the Army National Guard for four years and the Reserves for four years.

Donald worked in the family business, Snyder Equipment, Inc.  in Watsontown, since its beginning in 1947 and continued to be involved in the business with his son and daughter-in-law.

He was a former member of the Muncy Jaycees, the Muncy Rotary and the NRA. He was the past president of Penn Jersey Equipment Dealers Association and a charter member of the Muncy Valley Moose. He had served as Muncy Creek Township supervisor as well as on the planning commission and the current zoning board. He was a member of the Jackson Corners Hunting Club at Buttonwood.

An avid collector of Massey-Harris-Ferguson tractors and implements, he was also a charter member of Friends of Massey. He took great pride and enjoyment in restoring, showing and speaking about his tractor collection.

Donald loved spending time with his son and daughter-in-law at the business, visiting with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and attending their sports events.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Debbie Snyder, of Lairdsville; one brother and sister-in-law, Carl and Betty Snyder, of Watsontown; two grandchildren, Christopher Snyder and his wife, Stephanie, of Unityville and Becky Shaner and her husband, K.C., of Hughesville; and four great-grandchildren, Chase and Maya Snyder and Tyce and Everett Shaner.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by one brother, Gary Snyder.
Friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Grenoble’s, 121 S. Main St., Muncy, followed by the funeral at 1 with the Rev. Arlene Beechert, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Muncy, officiating.
Burial will follow in Muncy Cemetery.

The family will provide the flowers and suggests memorial contributions be made to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, check payable to MOPH Chapter 656, and mail to George Brown, 500 Jackson Road, Danville, PA 17821, or a veteran’s charity of one’s choice.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grenoblefuneralhome.com.
 
http://m.dailyitem.com/obituaries/donald-b-snyder-muncy/article_71de85a2-9f9c-11e5-9779-9f04d4b5a1a5.html?mode=jqm

RE:Don Synder Has Left Us - He will be missed!

Very well put together words, Gary.  I met Don at the first "National" Massey show I attended with my Grandpa's 44.  It was 1993 in Georgetown, OH.  Fate put me together with Don at a table for the banquet.  We became very good friends that evening.  As you say, Don was the epitome of Massey Collectors.  He was a very early, and continuing influence in my "change of direction" to focus on Masseys rather than those "green ones" (and by that I mean John Deere, not early Pacemakers/Challengers...).

Sincerest condolences to Sherry, Carl, and the rest of the family.  Don will surely be missed, but he will live on in our memories as a good man and great influence.  And, we will continue to use his most appropriate, original phrase:  "Old Masseys Collect the Nicest People.'   No one has ever said it better.

Rest in peace, good friend.