Carey Albert Snyder, aged 92, of Havre de Grace, Maryland, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on October 31. He was born on December 15, 1932 in Covington, Virginia to Minnie Levisay Fletcher, Covington, VA and Albert Elmer Snyder, Fishersville, VA. His family moved to Havre de Grace in 1940 following his mother's employment as a dental assistant at Perry Point VA Medical Center.

Carey lived a life full of kindness, laughter, and purpose. He will be remembered for his geniality, sense of humor, dedication to family, and professional achievements. Carey began his career as a social worker at the Maryland Training School for Boys, providing counseling to juveniles. To pursue his interest in psychiatric social work, he continued his career at Spring Grove State Hospital in Catonsville in the adolescent unit. In 1965 he was appointed supervisor of social work in the Geriatrics Division of Spring Grove State Hospital. He later accepted a position as supervisor of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program at the Harford County Department of Social Services.

In 1967 he was selected to participate in a three year research program on schizophrenia at the Friends of Medical Science Research, Inc. The research grant was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. At the completion of the research program, Carey accepted a position at Fort Howard Veterans Hospital where he focused on the needs of disabled and elderly patients in the hospital nursing home. In 1972, Mr. Snyder returned to Harford County as a psychiatric social worker with the Harford County Mental Health Department where he provided evaluations and individual and marital psychotherapy.

Carey is a graduate of Havre de Grace High School ('53), and was drafted the same year; he served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean War. He received his B.A. from Bridgewater College ('58) in Bridgewater, VA. He also attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work and received his master's degree from Howard University in Washington, DC.


He retired from the Mental Health Department in 1991, traveling the world and traversing the U.S. and Canada on his motorcycle. He enjoyed camping, biking, and canoeing around Maryland and especially loved canoeing on Deer Creek with his dear friend Dean Spencer. He kept in touch with his high school friends, and weekly they ate breakfast together at their favorite spots. Carey resided in Havre de Grace for 80+ years and loved to photograph the Concord Point Lighthouse and the water - he sold his pictures at local events and from his porch on Bourbon Street.

Carey is survived by his wife, Mary Lynn Snyder, formerly of Havre de Grace and a resident of Leonardtown, Maryland, his sister Marilee Fletcher Moore of Havre de Grace and his sister-in-law, Bertha Fletcher (William), Indianpolis, his children Laura Snyder Schultz (John) of Leonardtown, MD, and Carey Alan Snyder (Heidi Link) of Vienna, VA; and 5 grandchildren: John Brandon Schultz, Catherine Alaina Schultz, Collin Andrew Snyder, Holden Link Snyder (Kim), and Luke Alan Snyder. He is also survived by his brother Bill's children Joseph Ellsworth Fletcher (Aki) and Mary Fletcher Rothmayr (Christoph). Carey was predeceased by his brother William "Bill" Ellsworth Fletcher (Bertha) and his sister Jean Clark.

A Visitation for Carey will be held on Wednesday, November 26, at Zellman Funeral Home on Pulaski Highway from 10:00-11:00 a.m. At 11 a.m. family and friends are invited to a service to honor Carey's memory presented by Pastor Rob Blezard from St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Aberdeen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army in his honor. He will be buried in a private ceremony in Aberdeen, MD. Carey's warmth and humor will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him and his hilarious and clever one liners will be with us always.