Funeral Held For Officer Killed, Father In McKean Co. Crash
MOON TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- A police officer and his father who died on a deer hunting trip were buried today.
Andrew Snarey's pickup truck slid off Route 66 just a few miles from the family camp in McKean County over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Well-lived years ended in seconds. Lying head to head in caskets, a father and son were remembered.
"I have a three-year-old son," says family friend Cadie Newton, "and I just hope I can instill the values, and I can raise him to be great men like Andrew and George were."
Dozens of friends and family gathered at the Copeland Funeral Home in Moon Township to say their last goodbyes.
"It's hard, it's hard," Lara Wilson, stepdaughter, said. " They were the best men I ever met and no one can replace them."
Andrew Snarey, 25, an Army veteran, 82nd Airborne, Afghanistan, was buried in his uniform.
Andrew also served as a part-time police officer in Baden, Conway and Harmony.
Men who served with him and fellow police officers paid their respects.
George Snarey, 60, won a $9 million share of a Pennsylvania Lottery jackpot but won more hearts for his honesty, thoughtfulness, easy manner and dry sense of humor.
"Any man can be a father – it takes a special man to be a dad," Ashleigh, Snarey's daughter, said.
She recalled him working seven days a week and still coaching baseball, soccer and hockey.
Of her "little brother," she said he was her biggest supporter and best friend. Her brother and father adored her daughter Peyton.
"Just nice people. George was never angry. He liked everybody. As a matter of fact he helped me get my job at Yellow Cab," Sencil Ponder said.
He played on the same pool team with George and Andrew.
Stories were shared wonderful and funny – an unbearable loss was softened by the comfort of memories.
They were so close according to those who loved them that one could not have lived without the other.
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