Essilee Snook, 95, of Mexico, passed away and went to the loving arms of Jesus at 3:25 p.m., Friday, February 23, 2024, at her home.

Visitation and funeral services will be Friday, March 1, 2024, at Pickering Funeral Home in Mexico, Missouri. The visitation will be 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m., with Pastors Bryce Kristofferson and Jerry Ostrom officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery.

Essilee was born June 8, 1928, in Mexico, Missouri, the daughter of Archie F. and Gladys (Kistler) Playter.

Essilee graduated from Mexico High School in 1946, received an Associate Degree from Lindenwood College in 1948, then completed her junior year in Home Economics at the University of Missouri. On October 29, 1949, she was married to Marion K. Snook in Mexico, Missouri.

Essilee was preceded in death by her parents and she is survived by her husband, and by her children, Linda Kay Snook of Santa Barbara, California, and Matthew Lee Snook (Anne Dittmar) of Loveland, Colorado.

Horses were a big part of Essilee's life from childhood. She showed three-gaited American Saddlebred horses in local competitions, at the Kansas City Royal, and at the Chicago International. Later in life, she served as the curator of the Audrain County Saddle Horse Museum for 10 years.

As a young bride, she and her husband built their first home as a do-it-yourself project, with as little outside help as possible. She was a Girl Scout leader and enjoyed making quilts for hospitalized children, stained glass projects, and crafts of all kinds.

Essilee was an active member of Centennial Baptist Church, serving in the choir and as a Sunday School teacher, and was an inspiration to others with her happy testimony of her love for Jesus.

Memorial contributions are suggested for Centennial Baptist Church, Audrain County Historical Society (for the Saddle Horse Museum), or The Simmons' Stables Preservation Society. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 North Western St., Mexico, MO 65265.