Waylon Ashcraft Snellbaker

Stamford- Waylon Ashcraft Snellbaker, 3, of State Route 23, Stamford died unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at O'Connor Hospital in Delhi, NY.

He was born on September 28, 2020 in Albany, NY and was the son of John Clark Snellbaker and Melinda Joy Gaida. Right from birth Waylon was a fighter; turning the 5 days to live that he was given at birth from AMC into an incredible 3 years and 6 days.

He amazed everyone with his strength, perseverance, and good nature through all his struggles. Waylon loved to laugh, smile and was even a bit of a jokester. Although Waylon had the complexity of Trisomy 13, his parents did everything possible to give him an amazing life, and a huge part of that is due to Boston Children's Hospital who never "labeled" Waylon with his diagnosis rather treated Waylon as they would treat any child seeking medical treatment and care. They became a second family to Waylon and his parents. Because of Boston Children's, Waylon and his family were able to experience life on the farm, family trips and vacations.

Waylon's favorite place to be was out in nature. Whether hiking on Headwaters trails on his mom's back here at the farm, riding in the farm truck doing "nightly checks", hauling hay with Dad or helping move the cattle that was Waylon's Happy Place, with mom, dad and the outdoors.

Waylon impacted more lives than he ever knew through the sharing of his life story. His light shone bright on everyone who knew him, read about him or even saw his picture. He will be greatly missed by all.

He was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, John Charles Snellbaker; paternal great-grandparents, John Ashcraft Snellbaker and Julia Snellbaker; maternal great-grandfather, Lawrence Dibble.

Cherishing his memories are his parents, John Snellbaker and Melinda Gaida; siblings, Corey Greene and Amanda Moore, Logan Eggleston, Gabriel Eggleston; Niece, Nesryn Greene; paternal grandmother, Janette Snellbaker and her companion, Richard Purcell; maternal grandparents, Terrie and James Gaida; maternal great-grandmother, Eva Dibble; aunt, Kristen and Jonathan Hertzler; uncle, Matthew and Kelly Gaida; cousins, Alex Hertzler, Alana Hertzler, Ethan Gaida, Mikayla Gaida; and so many others that Waylon's life has touched.

The family would like to thank the Doctors and Nurses at Boston Children's Hospital, as well as Dr. John Novak and Dr. Joseph Sellers and staff at Bassett Healthcare in Cobleskill for the great care and support they provided Waylon and his family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2PM on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at the VFW, 971 Terry Rd., Stamford, NY with Deacon Paul Cerocelleti officiating. Family and friends are also invited to a period of visitation at the hall prior to the service from 12PM to 2PM.For those who cannot attend in person, you may join us via live stream on the funeral home Facebook page.

Contributions in memory of Waylon A. Snellbaker may be made to the Arbor Day Foundation at https://shop.arborday.org/commemorative-trees-in-memory or Boston Children's Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215 at http://giving.childrenshospital.org/ways-to-give/honor-memorial-giving/index.html or http://giving.childrenshospital.org/the-every-child-fund/ or https://secure.childrenshospital.org/site/