Mary Leslie Schnell

Mary Leslie Ottman Schnell

May 11, 1956 — March 31, 2026

Mary Leslie  Schnell, a devoted mother and cherished friend, passed away on March 31, 2026 at 69 years of age. She was born on May 11, 1956 to Aletha Grace Ottman in Kansas City, MO. She was the youngest of three girls in the family and was close to her sisters throughout her entire life.

Mary grew up in the Northeast Kansas City neighborhood. She graduated from St Theresa’s Academy in 1974 and went on to earn a degree from Kansas University. Once she graduated, she found employment with Marley Cooling Tower Company working in the print room where she met the love of her life, Dennis, in 1979.

In October of 1980, Mary and Dennis were married, and she began working in healthcare at Statland Medical Clinic. They went on to have a son, Nathan, in 1982. Mary immensely enjoyed being a mother, and being in loving partnership with her husband.

Dennis’s career took the family to Houston, Texas in 1989. During that time Mary was employed by Compaq computer as a project manager where she excelled professionally and was beloved by her coworkers. Mary had a remarkable ability to make lifelong friends wherever she lived. In 2001, her husband was transferred back to Kansas for work and she was very excited to make the move back home.

In Kansas, she re-entered the healthcare profession as a medical assistant at Statland Clinic, and worked there until she retired in 2018. She kept active in the community after retirement, volunteering in elder care, and as patient assistant at Belton Regional Hospital and most recently at a food pantry for underprovided children. She was also a member of the United Methodist Church of Resurrection in Leawood, KS.

Mary loved her family, road trips with Dennis, especially to the mountains of Colorado and the lighthouses of the East coast, reading magazines/books, crossword puzzles, telling hilarious stories about family member or friends to make everyone laugh and she had a true passion for making things beautiful and perfect for everyone, especially on holidays, which is just one of many reasons she will be missed. Her most recent favorite thing was her volunteer work and meeting for coffee with her beloved friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her mother Aletha, and her oldest sister, Kay. She is survived by her husband, Dennis, her son, Nathan, her sister LeEllen, and wide circle of extended family and close friends, former colleagues and those whose lives she touched with her warmth and caring nature.

A memorial service will be held at the Wesley Chapel of The United Methodist Church of Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas on Saturday, April 25th at 10:00.

Our family takes comfort in knowing she is reunited with her loved ones in heaven. She will be deeply missed by all who know her.

Special thank you to everyone who gave support and prayers during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Silver Link Ministries at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Avenue, Leawood, KS 66224.

To share a memory of Mary, or to leave a message for the family, visit the guestbook below.