Pat Snyder

Raymond “Pat” Snyder, age 86, passed away peacefully at home in his sleep on Thursday, June 18, 2026, from natural causes. He was a wonderful father, husband, teacher, accomplished artist, and longtime resident who had made Coos Bay his home since 1967.

Pat Snyder was born in Traverse City, Michigan, on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1940. He was the fifth of nine children born to Juanita Smith and Ervin Snyder. In his youth, his mother encouraged his interest in art by making sure there were drawing supplies around the house. His dad, a sign painter by trade, taught his children drawing techniques around their large kitchen table in the evenings. As a result, Pat was able to draw and create at a young age. His father’s vocation took the family around the U.S., including Florida, Arizona, Oregon, Illinois, and Michigan. When Pat was in elementary school, his family settled in Coos Bay for a few years. His early experiences in Coos Bay left an unforgettable impression that became a touchstone for his future life here.

After graduating from Traverse City High School in 1958, he joined the U.S. Army for three years of service. He then enrolled in Northern Illinois University (NIU), DeKalb, Illinois, as a math and business major. Not finding interest in those subjects, he pursued art at the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida, then returned to NIU in 1963, pursuing Bachelor’s and Master's Degrees in Art Education and Printmaking. In 1963, he met the love of his life, Gail Kruger, at an AOPI sorority and Veterans’ group coffee hour meet and greet event. They both clicked, sharing a love of art, education, music, and current events. They married in Lombard, Illinois, on July 31, 1965, and enjoyed nearly 61years of marriage as partners and best friends. Once married, they lived in Elgin, Ill., where Gail taught 6th grade while Pat commuted and finished his degrees at NIU. For adventure, they took a cross-country camping trip to Coos Bay in 1966. Once here, they immediately decided Coos Bay was where they wanted to plan the rest of their new life together. In 1967, after applying for teaching positions, Pat accepted an art teacher position at Marshfield High School (MHS).

Pat taught a multitude of art classes at MHS. In addition, he started the first high school student art show at the Coos Art Museum (CAM) in 1969. He advised and ran the student yearbook (Mahiscan), and created an after-school student sign-making club called Pirate Graphics. When computer technology arrived at MHS, he taught computer graphics and website design. He contributed to the teaching profession by serving as a Coos Bay Education Association union representative and as Union President from 1988-89. He was a key negotiator in ending the 1987, 11-day teachers’ strike.

As an artist, Pat strongly believed in freedom of expression through art. One painting, displayed in a 1970s Coos Bay Library art show, sparked public debate. The work featured the iconic calendar pose of Marilyn Monroe, "Golden Dreams.” A citizen's complaint to the library requested it be censored or removed due to nudity. A flurry of letters for and against First Amendment and library rights, censorship, and what is considered art dominated The World newspaper’s editorial pages. In the end, the library board voted to keep the painting uncensored and as originally displayed.

In the 1990s, his printmaking and hand lettering skills led him to design computer fonts (SnyderSpeed, ComicsCarToon, and MarkerFelt Thin/Thick/Wide), which Apple Computer bought the license and rights for use in its 2001 operating system. Currently, his fonts are found in Apple’s operating systems and continue to appear worldwide in signage, packaging, advertising, and film graphics.

In 1998, after 30 years of teaching, he retired from MHS and began producing his largest body of artwork, including paintings, silkscreens, engravings, and other methods, for local shows, galleries, and venues throughout the Northwest. He enjoyed local Plein Air outings with Bay Area Artists’ Association, finding inspiration from the natural spaces of our area. He self published an art book, Coos County Playgrounds, where he used artistic collage techniques to pay homage to outdoor parks in Coos County. His works have been featured and sold at the 2nd Street Gallery in Bandon for over 15 years. Some are part of permanent collections displayed at Southwestern Oregon Community College, Coos Art Museum, and Oklahoma City Museum of Art. His works are available for rent from CAM’s rental gallery, with several currently displayed at Bay Area Hospital’s main entrance.

Pat enjoyed outdoor activities with family and friends. His endless dry sense of humor, sharp poker/crossword skills, love for documentaries, and quiet generosity will be sorely missed. He could be found gardening, harvesting his fruit trees, picking blackberries, mushrooming, crabbing, fishing, golfing, and attending artistic movies at the Egyptian Theatre. Most importantly, he was a dedicated and active member, volunteer, and instructor at the Coos Art Museum for nearly 58 years, where he contributed to CAM’s strong presence in our community. To honor him, an exhibit of his selected works will be shown in CAM’s Perkins Gallery later this summer.

He is survived by his wife, Gail, and their three children, two daughters and a son: Tricia Snyder-Neiwert and Eric Neiwert, of Troutdale, OR; Thea Snyder and Cory Dazey, of Coos Bay; and Jesse Snyder and Mandi Snyder (Wilson), of San Diego, CA. They have four grandchildren: Alex and Coen Neiwert, and Ada and Eliza Snyder. He is also survived by five of eight siblings: twin sisters Rita Hood of St. Charles, Ill., Nita Mayle of Deland, Fla., and Penny Beetz of North Aurora, Ill.; and brothers, Wayne Snyder of Mentor, OH, and Bill Snyder of Citrus Heights, CA. His older siblings, sister Connie Ross, FL, and brothers Ronald Snyder, MI, and Larry Snyder, Coos Bay, preceded him in death.

Cremation rites were held by the Coos Bay Chapel, with a private family celebration of life held by all his children and grandchildren. Friends, family, and his students are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com and www.theworldlink.com. Per his request, contributions in his memory may be made to the Coos Art Museum, 235 Anderson, Coos Bay, OR 97420.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pat Snyder, please visit our floral store.