Staff Report
January 15, 1950 – June 23, 2026
Sherry Anell Snowden, a woman whose life was a brilliant canvas of color, energy, and generosity, passed away on June 23, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 76.
Sherry’s journey began in Austin, Texas, on January 15, 1950. As part of a military family, her childhood was a grand adventure that took her from the vibrant culture of Japan to the wide-open landscapes of South Dakota and Wyoming. She eventually returned to her Texas roots, attending high school in San Marcos where she was a cheerleader. She continued her higher education at Southwest Texas State University (Texas State) and was a cheerleader and a Strutter. San Marcos was also the home of her first calling at Aquarena Springs where she performed as an Aquamaid for over 10 years and forever cemented the mermaid as her spirit animal.
She went on to call Buda, Texas, her home for most of her life and for the past 7 years lived in Houston, Texas to be close to her grandchildren as they grew up.
A lifelong learner and a passionate creator, Sherry earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education. She dedicated over thirty years to her calling as a visual arts educator, leaving an indelible mark on thousands of students from Pre-K all the way to higher education. At Hays High School, she established the drill team, an extension of her time as a Strutter. As a lecturer at Texas State University, she inspired the next generation of teachers, and her joyful energy truly shined as the director of the university’s Kids' Kollege Summer Art Camps.
For Sherry, art wasn't just a subject, it was a vehicle to bring joy, meaning, and connection to everyone around her. To know Sherry was to know a true social butterfly. She was beautifully quirky, endlessly peppy, and delightfully whimsical. She had a deep appreciation for the little things in life: she never met a decorative plate she didn’t love, she was a master at baking amazing Swedish rye bread, and she possessed a boundless optimism that made every new restaurant she visited "the best one yet." A natural tinkerer, she loved fixing up all kinds of items, seeing the potential and beauty in things others might discard. Above all, her favorite role in life was being a grandmother.
Sherry lived by a simple, wholesome philosophy that she regularly shared with those she loved: “Be kind and loving.” She was profoundly thankful, fiercely generous, and gave her love without condition. Anchoring this immense capacity to love was her deep faith in Jesus. Throughout her life, she did not stop seeking and growing in that faith, finding new depth and strength in her relationship with the Lord with each passing year. Toward the end of her life, that bond grew even more profound as she felt closer to Jesus than ever before, resting fully in His peace and grace.
Sherry was preceded in death by her husband, Reynold Lloyd Magnuson, and her sister, Lois Henderson.
Her bright spirit lives on in her family. She is survived by her husband, Oscar Sherman Snowden; her son, Reynold Scott Magnuson, and daughter-in-law, Aurelie Fleur Magnuson; her three cherished grandchildren, Helene Elise Magnuson, Anna Lacie Magnuson, and Thomas Edwin Magnuson; and her brothers, Bob and Allen Henderson.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Sherry’s beautiful life at either of the upcoming memorial services:
Houston Memorial Service
Tuesday, July 7th at
2:00 PM
Grace Houston
1021 Campbell Rd, Houston, TX 77055
Buda Memorial Service
Saturday, July 11th at 10:30 AM
First Baptist Church
104 S San Marcos St, Buda, TX 78610
Floral Tributes may be sent directly to either Grace Houston or First Baptist Church Buda. Please Contact Either:
Breen’s Florist
breensflorist.com
(713) 668-2376
Kyle Flower Shop
kyleflowershop.com
(512) 504-3528
