Mr. Willie L. Skannal

Obituary In Loving Memory of Willie Lee Skannal was born April 14, 1928, in Shreveport, LA to Willie Skannal and Effie Lee Drayden. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillie M. Skannal, one son, David E. Skannal, parents, Willie and Effie Skannal, three brothers, Grover, John, and Wallace Skannal, and one sister, Bertha Jean Kemp. Willie attended Mt. Zion and Ingersoll Elementary schools in Shreveport, LA. He graduated from Central Colored High School in 1945. He attended Los Angeles City College where he studied Art from 1946-1948. He later moved to Kansas City, MO and was drafted into the Army where he worked as a Construction Engineer. He received an honorable discharge in 1952. Willie met his wife Lillie M. Seals in Kansas City, MO. They were married March 6, 1950 and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2010. They were blessed with 10 children. Willie began working at a young age. He worked as a paper boy, delivered ice, shined shoes, and walked blind people to work. He worked for several companies during his adult career. They included Sarachek Art Galleries Inc, Chase Bag Company, Eddie’s at the Prom Hotel, Lemon Tree Club, The Sheraton Hotel and The River Club from which he retired. He later rejoined the workforce at Osco Pharmacy/CVS and retired after 16 years. Willie loved his family very much and enjoyed traveling to Louisiana to visit as often as he could. He loved participating in family reunions and telling life stories of his youth. He enjoyed art, drawing, baseball, tennis and flying kites. He also enjoyed watching tennis on TV, game shows and old movies. One of his fondest memories was when he attended the US Open with his brother Napoleon. He loved to dress and was very particular about his appearance. Some of his notable sayings were, “You’ll always know if a man is a bum or not by the way his shoes look”, “I took care of myself by staying up all night and chasing wild women”, and “I’m still kicking but not too high.” Willie was a member of St. Stephen Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo. He departed this life on September 8, 2021 at home. Cherishing his memory are his children, Chantale (Michael) Baynham, Vincent (Roberta) Skannal, Denise (Michael decd) McCraney, Gregory (Della) Skannal, Allison (Sturgis) Allen, Phyllis Skannal, Mark Skannal, Brian Skannal and Darryl Skannal, brother, Napoleon (Yvonne) Skannal, sisters, Dorothy Flanagan, and Catherine Elmore, and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Funeral Service will be held next Thursday, September 23, 2021, 11:00am at St. Stephens Baptist Church. Interment Leavenworth National Cemetery, LVNKS. Visitation will be from 9am-11am at the church. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on or website. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mr. Willie L. Skannal, please visit our floral store. Read More

Mr. Willie L. Skannal

April 14, 1928 - September 8, 2021