William Huey Shnaekel was born to William Henry and Augusta Meeks Shnaekel on June 27, 1935, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on August 22, 2026, at the age of 91. He was known by most as Bill, Dad, or Papaw.

Bill was a supervisor for International Paper Company in Tennessee and moved to Malvern in the 1960s to continue working for the company as a licensed boiler operator. After that, he spent many years working in road construction, followed by service as a security guard at the Arkansas State Capitol and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he ultimately retired. In his later years, he attended the televised services of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church.

He married Mayme Jane Ross, and together they reared eleven children: seven sons, William (Mary), Wes (Mary Ann), Lloyd (Elaine), Nick (Jennifer), Jay (Cheryl), Michael (Amy), and Chris; and four daughters, Kay (Sterling) Dalby, Teresa (Tom) Lee, Augusta Sue (Chuck) Blankenship, and Annette (Raymond) Wilson. He was blessed, entertained, and kept busy by 29 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Bill typically prepared the creative meals for his family, and, as you can imagine, you wanted to be at the table first—and on time. It was not uncommon to have several extras present when the kids brought their friends home.

The stories of their escapades could fit the bill for almost any genre: comedy, suspense, drama, romance, thriller, and action. As the kids told these stories, Bill could often be seen smirking, rolling his eyes, and occasionally giving an expression suggesting he had never heard the story—and certainly would not confirm it. To many, the stories would seem like fiction!

Bill’s granddad was a piano tuner and owned two piano shops; therefore, it was expected that Bill would become a piano player, and he became an excellent one. Another attribute that deserves mention was his meticulous penmanship, an art rarely taught today. Bill credited Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy in Pine Bluff with teaching him those skills.

He was an avid caretaker and supporter of animals, including squirrels and birds, especially hummingbirds. In the late afternoon, they sounded like aircraft as they came in for their sweet treat. His prized pet, Cisco, was spoiled with cooked chicken, time, attention, and basically whatever he wanted.

The memorial service will be held at J. A. Funk Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 25, at 1:00 p.m., with the Reverend Tony Burrow officiating.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.