Vesta Charlotte Schneider

Vesta Charlotte Meads Schneider, of Fort Collins, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 1, 2010, surrounded by her loving children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Vesta was born to Charles and Edith Meads on September 6, 1924, at the family ranch in Purcell, Colorado. She came early and was so small, her mom put her in a shoebox and sat with her under a steam tent to help her breathe. She lived on the ranch until graduating from Ault High School. She married Richard Schneider on November 26, 1942. They celebrated 47 years of marriage. Rich preceded her in death September 1989. Vesta was a secretary with Larimer County Social Services for 40 years. After retirement, she cooked breakfast at the Helmshire Inn for three years and worked another two years at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1781 in Fort Collins. She was a member of the Women's Auxiliaries of the Moose Lodge and the VFW for many years. She and Rich loved to dance and enjoyed bowling, fishing and camping. One of Vesta's favorite places was the Pawnee Grasslands where her family ranch was located. Vesta loved her family and especially adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Growing up, one of her granddaughters' favorite pastimes was to raid her closet and "clunk" around the house in one of Grandma's many pairs of fancy shoes! Her grandchildren always felt like her home was their home. She is survived by her sons, Chuck and wife, Linda of Fort Collins and David and wife, JoAnn of Wellington. She is also survived by grandchildren, Rhonda Smith and husband, George, Chris Domanik and husband, Joe, and Adam Schneider, all of Fort Collins; her great grandchildren, Callia and Cooper Domanik of Fort Collins and Brooklynn Schneider of Kingsland, Arkansas;her brother, Richard Meads of Amarillo, Texas; and her brother-in-law, Elmer Schneider and wife, Betty. She will also be fondly remembered by several nieces and nephews and special "granddaughter" Lisa Abraham of Issaquah, Washington. In addition to Rich, Vesta was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Marjorie Hill, Edna Meads and Sylvia Devers; and her brothers, Bob and George Meads. Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 11, 2010, at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice or Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1781 in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524.