LeNell Marie Noel

LeNell Marie (Tatum) Noel, born on June 16, 1974, was a beloved wife, Momma, Nonnie, Aunt Nonna, daughter, sister, best friend, and so much more to the countless people whose lives she touched. LeNell passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of love, laughter, hard work, creativity, unforgettable memories, and a family and community who will forever carry her in their hearts.

LeNell was born in Wichita, Kansas, the youngest of three children born to Donald Bruce Tatum and Beverly Ann (Wilson) Tatum. She grew up in Leon, Kansas, alongside her older brother, Donnie, and older sister, Tammy. LeNell graduated from Bluestem High School with the Class of 1992. Among her classmates was the man who would eventually become her husband, Jeremy Noel.

Immediately following high school graduation, LeNell married Danny Schultz. Though their marriage later ended in divorce, LeNell and Danny made their home in Neodesha, Kansas, for more than 20 years, raising their four children together and building a family that remained at the center of LeNell's life.

LeNell was a devoted Momma who believed in showing her children how deeply they were loved—not only through her words, but through everything she did for them. She was always willing to rearrange her work schedule so she could be present for her children's activities and sporting events, whether they were playing at home or traveling for competitions. She spent countless days at football games, wrestling and baseball tournaments, cheering her children on and making sure they knew their biggest fan was always in the stands.

One of LeNell's most treasured expressions was, “Love you to the moon and back again.” Those words were more than something she said; they reflected the enormous love she carried for her family. LeNell was also the Momma who showed up in every possible way. She regularly volunteered in her children's classrooms, often making homemade treats for an entire grade, team, or group so that everyone could share. She celebrated the accomplishments of her children, nieces, nephews, and extended family with the same enthusiasm she brought to every other part of life.

She was a beloved Nonnie, and the same love, creativity, and enthusiasm she poured into raising her children continued with her grandchildren. She especially LOVED to spoil her grandbabies!

LeNell and Jeremy eventually found their way back to one another, and their relationship became another beautiful chapter in her life. They married on Friday, July 13, 2018, in El Dorado, Kansas. Together, they created a beautiful blended family. They were truly a winning team—in life and in cornhole. Their love of the game grew into something they could share with their community as they organized a cornhole league and hosted area tournaments.

LeNell was a devoted sports fan, but there was no greater team to her than her own family. She was also a Denver Broncos fan and proudly supported the schools and communities that were part of her family's story. She graduated a Bluestem Lion, was a Neodesha Bluestreak and Cherryvale Chargers fan, while also proud to be a Flinthills Mustang.

LeNell was a woman of extraordinary talent and seemingly endless creativity. She was an exceptionally talented baker and cake decorator who made cakes for birthdays, weddings, graduations, and countless other special occasions. She made cakes for virtually everyone in her family, and her talent became so well known that others hired her to create cakes for their own celebrations.

She was equally talented as a crafter. If LeNell saw something decorative that she liked, her response was often, “I can make that.” And then she would. More often than not, what she created was even more beautiful than the original. She had an extraordinary ability to envision something beautiful and then bring it to life with her own hands.

LeNell was also a gifted event planner and believed every accomplishment, milestone, or special occasion was worthy of celebration. She was the person who would throw a party simply because someone she loved had something worth celebrating. Her generosity extended even into difficult times, including organizing and providing a Celebration of Life service for her late brother. Her creativity was especially evident in her floral work. For her own wedding to Jeremy, LeNell handmade the flowers and all decorations herself, including the fabric roses that made up the bouquets carried by her and her bridal party. She also designed and created silk flowers for numerous weddings and for the proms of her children, nieces, and nephews.

LeNell's creativity was matched by her incredible work ethic. She began her career with Subway as a Sandwich Artist in 1989 in ElDorado, Kansas, and went on to manage several Subway locations throughout Southeast Kansas over a career spanning more than 30 years. She also worked for Connie Shiverdecker's State Farm agency for many years, running the insurance office in Fredonia, Kansas.LeNell was a hard worker who routinely worked more than 40 hours a week to provide opportunities and privileges for her children. Even while working full-time, she often took on additional jobs and projects, including Thrive, working at Walmart and Love's, cleaning, crafting, and creating floral arrangements for extra income.

She truly was a woman of many talents and was never afraid of hard work. Like her mother before her, LeNell also found meaning in working with children. She took great pride in working with the students of Flinthills USD 492, serving in roles including primary school custodian / maintenance and lunch lady. Her connection to the school and its students became another meaningful part of her life. Until her battle with cancer forced her to stop working, LeNell was working for USD 492 and Love's in Cassoday, Kansas.

Beyond her work, LeNell's greatest joy was creating memories with the people she loved. She enjoyed traveling with her family, with some of her favorite destinations being the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming and the beaches of Alabama and Florida along the Gulf Coast. She loved riding mountain trails in the side-by-side, but she was just as happy sitting on the beach and watching a sunset. LeNell had a deep love for nature and a remarkable talent for photography. She had a special eye for capturing the scenic beauty of the places she visited and preserved those moments in scrapbooks and digital albums so her family could treasure them for years to come. She didn't simply take photographs; she preserved pieces of the life and memories she created with the people she loved. Her family also included her beloved giant protector, Frank, her male CaneCorso Mastiff, who held a special place in her heart.

LeNell is survived by her father, Bruce Tatum; husband, Jeremy Noel; her children, Rian Wayne Schultz and wife Molly, Adam Tyler Schultz, Hailey Dee Ann Schultz and CJ Boone, Josh McKale Schultz and Avery Rice; her stepchildren, Bradon Alan Pinkerton, Craig Allen Noel, Cody Lee Noel and wife Veronica; her grandchildren, Lincoln, Stella Jean, Cole, Freya, Rowen, Addelaide, Paisley, Cylus, and Daxtyn; her sister, Tammy (Tatum) Wonser and husband Paul; her in-laws, Teresa and Skeates Bishop; her unbiological sister, Chey "Shiny" Wade; bonus son, Cylan Lakin and many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.  She was preceded in death by her mother, Beverly Ann (Wilson) Tatum, and her brother, Donnie Tatum.

LeNell leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured simply by the 52 years she lived. Her legacy lives in the children she raised, the grandchildren who knew her as Nonnie, the nieces and nephews who knew her as Aunt Nonna, the family she loved, the celebrations she created, the cakes and flowers she crafted, the photographs and memories she preserved, the students and communities she served, the friends she supported, and the countless people who were made to feel special simply because LeNell cared enough to show up.

She spent her life creating beautiful things, but perhaps her greatest creation was the life and memories she built with the people she loved. And to those who loved her most, her voice will always remain close :“Love you to the moon and back and back again.”

A Celebration of Life honoring LeNell Marie Noel is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026. Time and location to be determined.