Pam Sneed

Pamela F. Sneed of Cleveland, Oklahoma passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 after a courageous three year battle with gall bladder cancer. She was born in Lonoke, Arkansas on October 27, 1955 to Hazel Rae (Sappington) and Levi Baileth Loftis. She grew up in Arkansas and obtained her Master's degree in social work form the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. She worked as a social worker at Eastern State Hospital, Hillcrest Medical Center and most recently at St John Medical Center for over eighteen years before having to retire for medical reasons. Pam was an avid runner and had made many wonderful friends in the running community. She also had amazing work colleagues who provided unending support. In addition she was an avid animal lover, and she rescued many unfortunate dogs, cats, and a few rabbits in her short life and would have rescued many more......She could not tand to see a hungry or homeless animal. Pam is suvived by her loving husband, Steve of the home; step-daughters, Jennifer of Brooklyn, New York; brothers, Roger and Rachelle Loftis of of Middleton, Texas, Buddy and Cathy Loftis of BeeBe, Arkansas, Mike and Lisa Loftis of Little Rock Arkansas, Danny Loftis of Carlile, Arkansas; sisters, Linda and Lin Pipin of Little Rock, Arkansas, Patty and Frank Andrews of Farmington, Arkansas, Mary Linsner of Rogers, Arkansas and Faye Taylor; and many nieces and nephews. Donations are suggested to any no-kill animal shelter, the Tulsa Running Club, or the American Cancer Society earmarked for gall bladder cancer research. Pam Sneed ran her first marathon in mid-October 2006 with a group of local runners who pre-ran the Route 66 marathon course with ultrarunner Dean Karnazes who ran fifty marathons in fifty days, across all fifty states. She ran the entire run with her friends Lori Davis and Denny Wooten and it was a glorious fall day. She even had a spot in the movie that Dean make to publicize his fifty reaces in fifty days that hsowed in cinemas nationally. Her first "official" marathon was the Route 66 marathon in Tulsa, Novemmber 19, 2006. She and Lori Davis ran the race togther and she had a time of 3:27:12 which earned her second place in her age group and 10th overall female. November 18, 2007 she ran again in the Route 66 marathon in Tulsa; she again placed second in her age group but improved to fifth overall female with a time of 3:24;25. Pam stated that her goal after "mastering" the marathon would be to run an ultramarathon, a race of at least fifty miles and up to one hundred miles. Pam's other personal running records and accomplishments included Oklahoma Female Runner of the Year 2004; Jim Thorpe 2005 Running Woman of the Year; and the following times, 5km - 19:25; 8km - 32:47; 10km - 40:05; 15km - 1:00:23; half marathon - 1:28:00; and the marathon - 3:24:25. A memorial service will be held at 11:00, Saturday, February 20, 2010 at the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Gene Black officiating. Following crematin her cremated remains will be placed in a columbarium at the Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland. Cremation was entrusted to Chapman-Black Funeral Home through Cremation Safeguard.