Brother Arthur Ray Snell

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.                                                                                                                                         and he delighteth in his way   Psalm 37:23 

 Mr. Arthur Ray Snell, 86, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2023, in the presence of family and close friends. He was born on May 22, 1937, in Ozark, Ala.  He was the eldest of four children born to the late Raymond “VK” and Lena Bell Snell. Ray, as he was affectionally called, was reared in a Christian home, and at an early age joined the First Missionary Baptist Church in Ozark.

He was educated in the Ozark, Alabama, school system.  After attending D. A. Smith School, Ray worked as a cook at the Camp Rucker Officer’s Club. Longing to experience life outside of the south, he ventured off to live in Washington, D.C.; Cincinnati, Oh.; and Denver, Colo., finally settling in Los Angeles, Calif, where he spent most of his life.  

Mr. Arthur Ray Snell made history as the first African American hired as a police officer in Ozark.  He also loved horses. His love of adventure led to other traveling jobs such as tour bus driver and long-haul truck driver enabling him to travel throughout the 48 contiguous states.  He was such an adventurer that he once rode his Harley Davidson motorcycle from Los Angeles all the way to Enterprise, Alabama to visit family.

Mr. Snell was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Kenneth Earl Snell and Raymond Snell, Jr.  He is survived by a son, Tracy Runyan (Bonnie), Cincinnati, Ohio; a devoted sister, Anne Bridgette, Enterprise, AL; loyal and dedicated friends, Mr. Calvin and Yvonne Boutte, who served as caretakers for many years; and a host of nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.

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