Lewis George Snake

Lewis “Sonny” George Snake was born February 10, 1943 to Lewis Snake and Elizabeth “Betty” Ann (Middleton) Sales in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He passed from this life January 10, 2025, at his home in Shawnee, at the age of 81.

After high school Sonny joined the United States Army. While in the military he served as a Sergeant Major in the Green Berets, an Army Special Forces Unit. Military awards he received include Expert (Rifle M-1); Marksman (Rifle M-14 & Carbine Caliber 30); Sharpshooter (Carbines & Rifle); National Defense Service Medal (10 Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Commendation Medal; Bronze Star Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal; Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Korean Service Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge; Vietnam Civil Actions Medal (1st Class); Good Conduct Medal (7th Award); Meritorious Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal; Master Parachute Badge; Vietnam Parachute Badge; 3 Oversea Bars (Indicating 54 months or 4.5 years of Military Service Overseas – 18 months for each bar); 7 Service Stripes (Indicates 21-23 years of Honorable Service).

Other awards and achievements include Certificate of Recognition from the United States Black Belt Federation to Certify that: Snake’s Moo Duk Kwan Association and Snake’s Moo Duk Kwan Karate Do, under the leadership of Lewis George Snake, are fully recognized and duly recorded as a Sogo Budo Ryu in the registry of the United States Black Belt Federation. Received 10th Degree Black Belt and Title of Hanshi (Master) in the Discipline of Snake’s Moo Duk Kwan Karate Do by the United States Black Belt Federation.

After retiring from Tinker, he became a private investigator and worked in security. Sonny married Marion “Kay” Hensley on February 19, 2005. He liked doing crossword puzzles, he enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune, and Friends, and older TV shows like Andy Griffith, Leave It To Beaver, Happy Days, and Cheers. He really enjoyed playing the game “Super Mario Brothers” on the Nintendo with his late wife, Kay. He enjoyed seeing the “Great Archway,” in St. Louis and “Graceland,” the home of Elvis Presley. His greatest achievement was his children, becoming a Master of Martial Arts, and his military service as a Green Beret in the United States Army. He was a member of the United States Black Belt Federation, Member of the Masonic Lodge of Freemasonry, and a member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marion “Kay”; grandson, Taylor “Lew” Lewis, and several aunts and uncles he was raised and grew up with in Texas.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children: Danny and Terrie Sullivan; Raymond Sullivan; Barry and Pam Snake; Gerald Snake; Brandi and Charles “Chuck” Lewis; Stewart and Tyann Snake; Amber Snake and Scott Roden; Julia and Jimmy Horn; and Yolanda and Chris Cullison; numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.