In 20 years, Lyla and Phil Snover have not only created a lot of snowmen, but a lot of memories.

It’s hard to pack 20 years of memories and facts into 20 inches of story. What wasn’t included in this week’s front page story is that the Town of Coupeville has partnered with Lyla and Phil Snover in the cost of creating and maintaining the town snow people.

The Town over the years has covered the cost of the plywood and white paint, said Mayor Nancy Conard.

The other colored paint has either been supplied by the Snovers or other volunteers.

And when Phil’s saw broke after cutting hundreds of plywood snow people, the town replaced it.

It’s a project that has seen volunteers come and go over the years.

In fact, Conard herself helped paint the first set.

What she didn’t mention, which Lyla was happy to share, is that first year Conard managed to ruin three shirts in the process.

Also, over the years the trend started to create a snow person to represent the various nonprofit groups in Central Whidbey.

They think they have them covered.

Several businesses have also requested a snow person and have covered the cost of supplies.

There article also didn’t have room to share all the mishaps over the years.

Creating these snow people was definitely a trial-and-error process. With several design revisions over the years.

The was also the year the waterproof red paint turned out to not be so waterproof.

Caring for Coupeville’s snow people is a big job but it appears to be a lot of fun. And the volunteers seem to understand how special it is.

Volunteer Gwen Samelson said it best when she said, “there’s something charming about it. It’s an American tradition.”