Shawn Michael Snider

Edinburg Fire Chief Shawn Michael Snider, 58, a Golden heart stopped beating at 10:01 PM and he entered eternal rest on Monday, May 1, 2023 at the Comfort House in McAllen, Texas. He was born on a Friday, July 10, 1964 in San Diego, California to Russell Louis Snider and Kathleen Peterschmidt. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Shawn is survived by his loving and supporting wife of 31 years; Edna Casas Snider, daughter; Sarah Elizabeth Snider, siblings; Chris (Rose) Snider, Richard (Ashley) Snider, Caroline Cooper, Jerice Porter and Michael (Susana) Miller, aunt; Pamela (Lanney) Manley, his favorite niece; Robin Elizabeth Falcon, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins from the Casas and Snider family who he loved dearly.
Shawn attended schools in Tyler, Texas, PSJA ISD and Grace Christian Academy in Pharr, Texas.
Chief Snider started out his career with Alamo Fire Department, came to Edinburg in 1991 as Assistant Fire Marshall and served as Chief from 1999 until his death. Shawn was a kind and compassionate man who had a big heart. He always made time to serve his family, Sacred Heart Catholic Church and his community. He loved deer hunting at The Guerra Ranch (La Muneca Ranch) in San Manuel and fishing in Port Mansfield. He was an educator and mentor to many throughout the Rio Grande Valley and the State of Texas. His stories and anecdotes as well as his public service and leadership will be greatly missed by his family, friends, Firefighter’s brotherhood and all those whose lives he touched. Chief Snider received many awards, honors and Associations: Member Alamo Fire Department – 10 Years, Member Edinburg Fire Department – 32 Years, President 53rd Police Academy, President 2nd Regional Fire Academy, President through 4th Vice President – Rio Grande Valley Firefighter’s and Fire Marshal’s Association, Administrator Border Rescue Symposium – 6 Years, Training Coordinator RGVFFMA – 10 Years, State Volunteer Firefighter Certification Board Member for South Texas Region – 17 Years, Firefighter of the Year – 1992, President Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department – 1994, Administrator & Instructor RGVFFMA Training Conference – 12 Years, Member State Firemen and Fire Marshal’s Association – 32 years, Member International Association Arson Investigation Texas Chapter, Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department Dormitory Committee – 7 Years, Inductee RGV Walk of Fame – 2009, President 4th Vice President – State Firemen and Fire Marshal’s Association, Regional Director and Volunteer Director of Texas Fire Association – Since 2004, Task Force Leader of Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 – Rio Grande Valley, Liaison of Past President’s Committee – SFFMA, Firefighter of the Year – Edinburg – 2014, Rio Grande Valley Firefighter and Fire Marshals Association – 2015 and Outstanding Service and Leadership in Emergency Management – 2018. The family would like to give a special “Thank You” to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Dr. Amisha Shaw, McAllen Heart Hospital ICU Doctors and nurses for their special attention and care provided. In lieu of flowers, the Snider family request that donations/gifts be made in honor of Chief Shawn M. Snider to: gifts.mdanderson.org, Sacred Heart Catholic Church or Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department.
The Snider and Casas family will receive friends and the community on Friday, May 5, 2023 from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00 PM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 501 East Kuhn Street in Edinburg. Catholic Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Manoj Kumar Nayak and Father William "Bill" Gural officiating. Catholic burial will follow to Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, 1701 East Richardson Road in Edinburg with Fire Chief honors under the auspices of the Edinburg Fire Department. Having the distinguished honor to serve as pallbearers will be Octaviano “Octi” Hernandez, Brad Carlson, Andrew Economedes, Chris Barron, Raul Guzman, John Ovalle, Javier Perez and Pat Siddons. Honorary pallbearers will be: Gerald “Tex” Williamson, Cassandra “Cassie” Garcia, Harold “Sparky” Nunn, Ricardo Saldana, Jaime Guzman, Carlos Guerra, Luis “Louie” Flores, Dallas Renfrew, Juan Angel Gloria, Michael Luna and Pilar Rodriguez, Members of The Edinburg Fire Department, The Edinburg Police Department, State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association Executive Board 2009, Texas Fire Chief Association, Members of The Texas Task Force 1 and all First Responders. Funeral services have been entrusted to his friend Johnny Garcia, Manager/Funeral Director of Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home, 322 East Kuhn in Edinburg.