SNELGROVE, Thelma M. (Nanny)

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ Wednesday, June 22, 2011 Thelma M. Snelgrove “Nanny” passed away at the age of 83 on June 4, 2011. Thelma was born in New Orleans, La. to Olga Louise (Reimonenq) and Raymond Joseph Dupree. She was a New Year’s Day Baby and spent most of her childhood in the south. Thelma joined her husband Willie Leroy after traveling to Miami from Mississippi on a Greyhound bus with her four month old daughter in her arms in 1948. She and her husband managed the McKay Hotel while her husband also worked at the Miami Inspiration Copper Mine. After 14 years of marriage and four children Thelma began a new life on her own with her children in Central Heights and lived in the same home for 58 years. Thelma worked many years as a waitress in Globe and Miami. She worked at the Justa Café, Globe Café, The Toastmaster Café and the Copper Hill Coffee Shop. In 1972 Thelma went to work in the copper mines and this is when her life changed. Thelma worked in the mines from 1972 to 1998. She worked as a guard and as a laborer most of her career. Many stories have been shared of how some of the men in the beginning made it pretty rough for the women who worked in the mines, but eventually they adjusted and they all ended up getting along and becoming great friends. Thelma loved to cook and plan potluck dinners at work. Many will remember Thelma’s potluck dinners and still talk about her File Gumbo. Thelma’s friends were very important to her and her job was her way to take care of her children and her future. Thelma worked as a laborer until she was 70 years old. Thelma’s children were asked many times why she would not retire and all they could say was, “she will, when she is ready.” A boss was asked once why Thelma wouldn’t retire and he said, “Because she comes to work, to visit.” Thelma only retired when Pinto Valley closed their doors, not because she was ready to retire. Thelma had interesting stories about her childhood in Louisiana and about her children. She loved bright colors, gardening, clothes, cooking, and traveling. Cookbooks were her love and not only for the recipes, but for the stories. She cooked a mean File Gumbo and always invited her friends to join the family for the holiday dinners. Thelma will be missed by many. She is the last of her family generation, she has left her children, grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and many friends filled with history, love, and has proven to many that a woman can do anything, she set’s her mind to. Thelma’s final word to all would be, not to question why you cut off the end of the cucumber, “Don’t question why, just do it.” Thelma will always be “Nanny” and will be remembered forever. Thelma was preceded in death by her son, Douglas Snelgrove; her parents; one brother, Raymond Esteves; and one nephew, Neil Esteves. Thelma leaves behind in loving memory two daughters, Carolyn (Jim) Gillis of Miami and Sue (Ronnie) Valdez of Mesa; one son, William Glen (Debbie) Snelgrove of Mammoth; one nephew, Mike (Judy) Esteves; 10 grandchildren, Brandon Burgett, Bristol (Burgett) Leos, Ernie, Venae (Bryant), Andrea, Melissa, Bernice and Denise Valdez; Bret and Zebulon Snelgrove; 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements for Thelma Snelgrove were entrusted to Miles Mortuary Services Globe.