Marshfield Graduate Remembered as Community Rallies to Help Family

What began as heartbreaking news for one family quickly became a reminder of how a community can come together in a time of loss.

In less than 24 hours, more than $40,000 was raised to help the family of Leah Hyde, a 24-year-old Willard woman who died Tuesday afternoon after being struck by a vehicle on James River Freeway in Springfield.

Hundreds of people donated through a GoFundMe campaign organized by family friend Bernadette Shively. The fundraiser was created to help cover funeral and burial expenses for Hyde and her unborn daughter.

Hyde was five months pregnant and expecting a baby girl with her husband, Joshua Snodgrass.

The outpouring of support has been swift. More than 500 people had contributed to the fundraiser by Thursday afternoon, offering donations, prayers, and messages of encouragement to the grieving family.

A 2020 graduate of Marshfield High School, Hyde later earned her Occupational Therapy Assistant degree from Ozarks Technical Community College. Friends and family describe her as someone who naturally cared for others and devoted herself to helping children.

According to the fundraiser, Hyde dedicated her life to serving young people and had a gift for making others feel loved and supported.

The tragedy happened around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday on the westbound side of James River Freeway between Campbell Avenue and Kansas Expressway.

According to Springfield police, Hyde's vehicle struck the concrete median divider and came to a stop in the far inside lane. Investigators say she exited the vehicle on the driver's side and was then struck by another vehicle whose driver was attempting to avoid the disabled car in the roadway.

Hyde died at the scene.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Family members say the loss has left an enormous void in the lives of those who knew her.

Her obituary describes her as a kind and compassionate person who found joy in simple things. She loved books, coffee, and spending time with family and friends. Most of all, loved ones remember the warmth she brought wherever she went.

"To know Leah was to know warmth," her obituary states. "She was the kindest of souls — empathetic, giving, and full of light."

As the family prepares for difficult days ahead, the response from friends, neighbors, former classmates, and strangers alike has shown just how many lives Hyde touched during her 24 years.

For many, the growing fundraiser is more than financial support. It is a reflection of a community grieving together and honoring the memory of a young woman whose life ended far too soon.