Bennie Allen Shull, 74, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away peacefully on August 21, 2026, at 4:50 a.m., surrounded by three generations of women who loved him dearly.

Bennie was born on February 19, 1952, in Springfield, Missouri, to Rev. Allen and Gladys Lorraine Shull—a late Valentine’s Day present who would go on to bring laughter and love to so many throughout his life. Born and raised in Springfield, Bennie never met a stranger and had a way of making just about anyone give a laugh or a smile.

At just 18 years old, Bennie met the love of his life, Connie Jean. Connie was only 15 at the time, but it didn’t take long for the two of them to know they had found something special. Just three weeks after meeting, they were married on September 23, 1970. They would have celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary this year, so clearly, they must have known something in those three weeks that the rest of us might have taken a little longer to figure out.

Together, Bennie and Connie built a life full of family, adventure, laughter, and plenty of change. They were blessed with two children, Angela Kay, born in June of 1971, and Brandon Allen, who followed in September of 1979.

Throughout his working life, Bennie sold cars and managed car lots in one capacity or another. It was a fitting career for a man who loved change. He was constantly driving something different, and for a while, Bennie and Connie seemed to enjoy changing houses almost as often as they changed cars—moving nearly every year for a period of time.

Bennie and Connie also loved to travel and made countless memories together. Their adventures took them to places like Acapulco, Mexico, and Bermuda, and they even spent some time living in Florida. But perhaps some of their most memorable adventures were the many family trips to Las Vegas, which often had all the excitement, chaos, and questionable decisions of a Griswold family vacation.

If there was one thing Bennie was especially good at, it was making people laugh. He was one of the funniest people you could ever have the pleasure of knowing, and you were almost guaranteed to become part of one of his jokes—whether you knew it or not. Bennie had a smile that could make you smile right back, and that smile will likely be one of the things his family and friends miss most.

He loved to golf, play and watch baseball and softball, and most of all, he loved to get up and go. Sitting still was never really his style. Bennie lived life with a sense of adventure and an appreciation for the people who shared it with him.

Bennie was preceded in death by his beloved son, Brandon Allen Shull; his parents, Gladys and Rev. Allen Shull; and a host of friends and loved ones who undoubtedly welcomed him home to Heaven with open arms—and probably a few jokes of their own.

He leaves behind his dedicated, loving, and faithful wife of nearly 56 years, Connie Shull; his daughter, Angela Scott; granddaughter, Maddy Kennard and her husband, Riley; grandson, Aiden Shull; and great-grandchildren, Ajah Baxter and Trace Kennard; his sister Nancy Mills and husband Steve, along with several nieces and nephews, countless friends, and loved ones who were fortunate enough to know and love him.

Bennie’s life was filled with movement, adventure, laughter, and love. While his absence leaves an incredible hole in the hearts of those who knew him, his stories, his jokes, his smile, and the memories he made with the people he loved will continue to live on.

A visitation will be held at Greenlawn Funeral Home North on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., with a graveside service to follow at 1:00 p.m. at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.