Ethel Chapell

Ethel "EE" Marie Chapell (Sayles), 81, of Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas, died in her home Sunday, July 5, 2026. Ethel was born May 17, 1945, to Lester E. Sayles, Sr. and Genevieve (Lovelace) Sayles. Ethel was the firstborn of 11 children. Ethel attended Douglass Elementary, Grant Elementary, and Northeast Junior High. After Ethel married, she earned her GED. Ethel was married on December 27, 1959, to "the boy next door" Claude "Tot" Lee Chapell Sr., until his death in September 2003. 

Like her dad, Ethel was an avid reader and had been all over the world without even having to leave Kansas City. Ethel tested 12th-grade reading on the Standard Achievement test while in 6'" grade. Ethel was always a good student in school. Ethel began her working career at the old Post Office on Pacific Avenue in KCKS until she found her calling in the nursing field. Ethel received her LPN license from the old General Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri in 1968. Ethel received her RN from Kansas City, Kansas Junior College in 1977. 

Ethel worked for the old St. Margaret's Hospital. She worked for the Medical Lodge Nursing Home. Ethel began working for the WYCO Health Department in 1977 and retired after 27 years as "The WIC Nurse". After she retired from the WYCO Health Department, she later worked part-time at Rainbow Mental Health. 

Ethel professed her hope in Christ at 8 years of age and was baptized at Eight Street Baptist Church, KCKS. Ethel learned to trust Jesus Christ as she raised her five children and took them to church at Saint John Baptist Church. 

Ethel was a very giving person, always going that extra mile, even when she didn't have it to give, she gave. Ethel always counted her blessings she received from her grandmother and tried to pass them on. 

Ethel was very family-oriented and was blessed with five children. She was affectionately called GG by her grandchildren.

Ethel was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents who had a great impact upon her life, Ethell Lee and Elzie Harris, both parents, Lester and Genevieve Sayles, Sr. Her husband of 44 years, Claude Lee Chapell, Sr., and two precious loving sisters, Deborah Renee Sayles and Cynthia Kay Sayles.

Ethel leaves to cherish her precious memories, her loving children, Sherri Juanita Chapell Pratt (Thommie), Claude Lee Chapell, Jr., Evette Marie Chapell, Susan Claudette Chapell, and Anthony "Tony" Chapell; 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; her sisters, Margarette Evon Sayles-Harrison (James "Toke"), Eugetta Denise Thompson, Eugenia Genise Morrow and Christine Laverne Allen; her brothers, Lester Eugene Sayles Jr., Nolan Lee Sayles (Sylvia), Robert Wesley Sayles (Charlotte), Karl William Sayles and Derrick Hunter Sayles,  and a host of nephews, nieces, extended family and friends. 

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