Anita Louise Woodard

Anita Louise Woodard was born in Marceline, MO, to Anita Madelline MaGraw Watkins and Clarence Charles Watkins on May 19, 1940, and died at age of 85 on March 27, 2025, in St. Louis, MO, of kidney failure.

Louise married John Franklin Schnoor I and taught In Emporia where she had acquired her first teaching degree in English. While teaching in Emporia, her first three sons were born: John Franklin Schnoor II, Raymond Charles Schnoor, and Steven Blake Schnoor. Louise divorced John Schnoor I. Leaving Emporia, Louise moved to Dallas, Texas, where she married Willy Woodard, and a fourth son, David Clark Woodard, was born. Louise separated from Willie Woodard and moved back to Emporia to finish a second degree in art which she used teaching in Howard, KS, where the family lived for the next two or three years.

In 1976, Louise moved to Independence, KS, teaching both art and English at the Independence Middle School as well as summer English at both the middle school and high school. She valued helping students improve their chances for graduation, so these summer jobs were important to her. Louise continued teaching in Independence until her retirement after her 1999-2000 school year. Louise moved to live with her youngest son, David, in St. Louis, MO in 2019. In 2021, Louise suffered a stroke and moved to Lansdowne Villages, a nursing and rehabilitation center in St. Louis. Louise learned that she had stage four liver disease but refused dialysis.

Louise was preceded in death by her parents--Clarence Charles Watkins and Anita Madline McGraw; a younger brother who passed quite young; both of her husbands (John Franklin Schnoor II and Willy Woodard); and her oldest son, John Franklin Schnoor II.

Surviving are the wife of John Franklin Schnoor II, Dora; John’s daughter, Nora Schnoor; Raymond Charles Schnoor and wife Cynthia and their children--Abigail and Lauren; Louise’s third son, Steven Blake Schnoor, who has one son, Blake, from a short marriage; and Louise’s fourth son, David Clark Woodard and wife, Lindsay Marie Blair.

Louise was known by her teaching colleagues for her fastidious approach to helping all students achieve. One would see beautiful bulletin boards and many artistic methods used in her lesson plans. She spent a few years helping abused women through the Safe House program until the situations left her too broken hearted to continue.

During her retirement Louise spent three years painting at the museum on a given day and time, asking other artists to join her. The purpose was to entice other artists to form a group, so she could ask good art teachers in the southeast Kansas area to be their teachers. IHMAC still has an active art program of two workshops every month and frequent workshops from well-known artists. Now children six-years-old to 80+ attend the workshops at IHMAC. Louise kept the Verdigris Valley Art Exhibit alive for three years of its 71 years of existence, laid the foundation for the Show & Sell for the southeast Kansas area, and brought love for the arts in all sorts of ways to the community—through the Neewollah productions, the schools, and the museum.

Politically active, Louise helped during elections, encouraging everyone to vote. Close friends valued her loyalty and found her fun and always candid! Louise was a very giving person, often at the expense of her own welfare. One of Louise’s pastimes was serving as a host for backgammon online.

Louise loved to sew and made special things for some of her grandchildren. Louise made quilts for her mother and assisted her by finding a good nursing home. She made trips frequently to Emporia, taking her mother shopping and just spending quality time with her until her mother passed. Louise will be remembered in Independence by her good friends and students for the important gift of the art program at the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center and for the difference she made in her students’ lives.

A visitation in honor of Louise is scheduled on her birthday, Monday, May 19, at Potts Chapel in Independence at 5:00 p.m until 8:00 p.m. Family, friends, students, and lovers of art are welcome to attend. Artworks from locals, family, and the museum will be on display. Those preferring to make donations can contribute to a Memorial Fund to establish Art Scholarships for the Independence Historical Museum & Art Center (IHMAC), a suggestion made by family and friends. Donations can be sent to IHMAC, 123 N. 8th, Independence, KS, or to the Potts Chapel,122 South Penn Ave., Independence, KS in Louise Woodard’s name.