Lehman Eugene Snively, better known to his fans as “Mr. Eugene,” died May 21. He was 84.

The artist and fashion designer, a 43-year resident of Colorado Springs, is survived by his wife, Lola Snively, two daughters, Heidi R. Rickard and Greta N. Miller, and three grandchildren.

Snively, the youngest of 12, was born April 27, 1928, in Broadway, Ohio. A religious man, he moved to Colorado Springs in 1969 to attend Nazarene Bible College. It was not long after that he met his wife, Lola (Fields) Snively.

Before his transition to a more settled family life, Snively worked in Hollywood in the 1950s and 1960s, where he created clothes for stars such as Angela Lansbury and Elizabeth Taylor, and he continued to exercise those artistic skills long after leaving Hollywood’s glitz and glamour for Colorado Springs.

The models and actresses who had surrounded him in Hollywood served as the inspiration for the women that he drew and painted throughout his career.

Snively referred to them as his “girls,” and they were the constant subject of his paintings and drawings. However, he was given to drawing the women in front of him as well, particularly at parties around town, where he often dashed off fashion sketches of other guests.

Later in life, Snively expanded his field of work beyond producing art when he began to teach drawing to Alzheimer’s patients. He also used his skills to help with other local fundraising efforts.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the First Evangelical Free Church, 820 N 30th St.

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Contact Lauren Fellers: 636-0198.

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE