Lois Lee Cromer

Lois Lee Cromer of Kansas City, Kansas passed away on May 12, 2021. She was 96 years old. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm followed by a funeral service at 1:00 pm at Chapel Hill Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112. The funeral service at 1:00 pm will also be available live on Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Please log on to facebook.com/chapelhillbutler to view the livestream of Lois’s service. Shortly before the appointed time, the livestream will begin. If you do not see the livestream on your screen, please refresh your page. You may need to scroll down to see the livestream. Graveside service will follow the funeral service at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

Lois was born on January 9, 1925 at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas to Jessie Shannon and Louis Knittel. Jessie was a schoolteacher and Louis was a motorcycle police officer. Unfortunately, Lois mother passed away only nine days after childbirth. Lois was raised by her father and her stepmother. Her parents had great plans and high hopes for Lois. She started performing on stage at the young age of just 18 months old. In Kansas City, Kansas, she was known as the “Child Prodigy” as she appeared on many programs in the metropolitan area. When Lois was just four years old, her mother took her to Hollywood, still with high hopes. During this time, the movie industry was transitioning from silent pictures to ‘talkies’ and it was in Lois’ best interest to wait for this transition to be complete before auditioning in Hollywood. However, Lois’ Hollywood dreams were cut short when her father passed away just a year later, though she continued to perform in the Kansas City area. Lois’ career introduced her to many great stars such as Buddy Rogers, Jean Harlow, and Amelia Earhart. Once in school, Lois still participated in the theater programs and put on many play at various locations, including the Music Hall in Kansas City, Missouri.

After graduating from Shawnee Mission High School, Lois went to work for Columbia Pictures, Film Distributors. It was here that she would broadcast during the war on a program called “Footlights of the Air.” Once the war was over, along came a Staff Sergeant in the Air Corps named Elmer Cromer that swept Lois of her feet. Two years later, the couple was married at the age of 21. Lois continued to work for Columbia Pictures for the next ten years while Elmer was in Kansas City, working for TWA. Lois advanced from switchboard operator to accounts receivable bookkeeper. She then moved on to work for General Motors in the “Works Standard Department” for three years, helping build a prototype F8F4 fight plane. She then worked for the Kansas City, Kansas US District 500 as a secretary for the next 56 years. Lois would also be a substitute teacher, and continue this well into her 80’s.

Elmer and Lois had one son, Gary Edward Cromer. Family was a huge part in Lois’ life and she had many, many dear friends. Lois enjoyed traveling and going bowling. She was also an avid KC Royals baseball fan and well as the KU Jayhawk basketball fan. Lois was a busy woman that was also on the go, she was a member of the Red Hatters group as well as a member of the American Business of Ladies organization. She also loved listening to music, especially country music, and would attended many Country Jubilee Shows over the years. In her spare time, Lois loved to plant flowers, feed the birds, and she enjoyed crocheting and knitting as well. Lois was a child of God and her faith has been a very strong aspect in her life. She attended church and was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church since 1959. Lois was an old soul and she had a sweet, kind, and innocent personality. She also had a silly, ornery, and goofy side to her has well. Lois was loved by so many and will be dearly missed.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Elmer Cromer.

Left to cherish her memory is her son, Gary (Debbie) Cromer; grandchildren, Brandon Schmalz, Nikki (Jessie) Schmalz, Katie (Jordan) Powell; and Megan (Dalton) Cromer; and five great-grandchildren and one on the way; along with many dear friends.