Scott Lee Snare

Scott Lee Snare, age 85, lumberman, passed away suddenly at his home in Gillsville, Georgia on Friday, November 16. Born in Hall County on October 7, 1927 to Mary Leila Langford Snare and Marion Lee Snare, he took over the family farm after graduating from Airline High School. He received Georgia's 1000-Bushel Corn Club award, for harvesting more than 1000 bushels on 12 or fewer acres.



But it was the lumber business that turned out to be his true calling -- from sawing lumber, to building homes. He initially used a portable sawmill, to provide lumber for chickenhouses he built, as well as custom sawing on customers' land. In 1963, he launched the Snare Lumber Company in its present location, 3736 Gillsville Highway, Gillsville, Georgia, across from the home where he grew up. For a half century, his business has helped many people - loggers, employees, builders, and craftsmen who needed custom lumber.



A hallmark of his business manner was that customers became friends. He was generous, sometimes giving lumber away. His home is filled with craftwork made by these friends. He was also deeply involved in his church, Holly Springs United Methodist Church in Pendergrass, Georgia.



He continued to operate the lumber company until his retirement at age 82, with help from his nephew Donald Snare and O.B. "Slim" Ramsey, who had worked with him since 1977. He was profiled in a 2009 Gainesville Times article, "The Old Man and the Sawmill." His nephew now runs the company, but he continued to help, and still read the Wall Street Journal daily.



On February 22, 1976, he married Jennie Lou Porter. At age 50, he became a proud father, to Anne Snare Bridges; then at 80, he became a grandfather, to Elizabeth Grace Bridges. Anne and "Libby" were the highlights of his life.



Another passion was his catfish ponds; he enjoyed few things more than fishing or feeding the fish. This had unique hazards; in 2010, he required a trip to the Emergency Room to remove a catfish which "finned" him. He viewed this with his usual sense of humor.



He is survived by his daughter, Anne Snare Bridges (Phil) of Marietta, his granddaughter Elizabeth Grace Bridges, ex-wife Jenny Lou Porter Snare of Commerce; niece, Joanne Snare LaCourse (David) of Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia; 4 nephews, David Langford Smith of Gillsville, Georgia, Derrell Lee Snare (Vicky) of Willis, Virginia, Donald Allen Snare of Gainesville, Georgia, and Daniel Marion Snare of Athens, Alabama; many Langford and Snare cousins, including Annie Lucille Moore Filler of Sacramento, California, Helen Wooten Moore Dahlenburg of Danville, Illinois, Doris Louise Jones Chandler of Gillsville, Georgia; grand-nieces, Claire Cowan Smith, Sally Elizabeth Smith, Heather Snare Prokopchak, Melissa Snare Rogers; and grand-nephews, Kenneth Haywood Snare, Matthew Lee Snare, Kevin Rogers Snare, and Bryan Robert Snare. Preceding him in death were his sister Elizabeth Snare Smith and brother John Langford Snare; grand-nephew Scott Lawrenson Smith; and many cousins, including Mildred Jones King, Lois Irene Jones Morris, Chester Ray Jones, and David Allen Jones.



A reception will be held Sunday, November 18 at 3-5 pm at the Snare home, 3864 Gillsville Hwy, Gillsville, Georgia. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 19, at 1pm, with refreshments afterwards, at the Holly Springs United Methodist Church, 7441 Holly Springs Road, Pendergrass, Georgia.



Memorial donation suggestions include Cure Alzheimer's Fund, 34 Washington St., Suite 200, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 (http://curealzfund.org/donate).



Online condolences may be made online at wardsfh.com. Ward's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.