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Helen M. Rhea
1924-2008
Helen M. Rhea, 84, Paola, died Wednesday, May 7, 2008, at Kindred Hospital, Kansas City, Mo.
She was born April 13, 1924, at Drexel, Mo., the daughter of August and Elizabeth Mae Ellis Hanser.
In the 1940s, she worked at First National Bank in Olathe and the U.S. Naval Air Station at the Olathe/Gardner Airport until 1945.
She married Jack H. Rhea on Dec. 8, 1945, in Olathe and moved to Paola. They had four children, Karen, Deanna, Jack II and Debbie.
She worked with her husband in the Jack Rhea Ford dealership for almost 30 years. After his death in 1982, she went to work at the University of Kansas as a house director in the Sigma NU DTD fraternity house for 12 years. She was chosen by the university to serve on a committee to change the statement of documents. It was a great honor to be chosen for this committee.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Paola for 61 years, the Paola Country Club and Olathe Garden Club.
She worked for two years at Miami County Bank, which changed its name to TeamBank. She worked part-time at Miami County Administration for four years in human resources.
She always had a smile on her face and loved being out among people and playing golf. She truly enjoyed being outdoors. The family had an operation in the 1960s and 1970s of over 200 acres of apple orchards in Miami County.
Others preceding her in death were her daughter Karen, a grandson and two brothers, Harold and Carl Hanser.
Survivors include two daughters, Deanna Martin of Olathe and Debbie Rhea of Shawnee Mission; a son, Jack Rhea of Osawatomie; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; a brother, Vern Hanser of Olathe; and a sister, Beverly Kyle of Lawrence.
Services were Monday, followed by burial in Paola Cemetery. Arrangements were by Penwell-Gabel, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071, (913) 294-2372. To leave family condolences, go to www.penwellgabel.com.
The family suggests contributions to the American Heart Association or Community Blood Bank.
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She was born April 13, 1924, at Drexel, Mo., the daughter of August and Elizabeth Mae Ellis Hanser.
In the 1940s, she worked at First National Bank in Olathe and the U.S. Naval Air Station at the Olathe/Gardner Airport until 1945.
She married Jack H. Rhea on Dec. 8, 1945, in Olathe and moved to Paola. They had four children, Karen, Deanna, Jack II and Debbie.
She worked with her husband in the Jack Rhea Ford dealership for almost 30 years. After his death in 1982, she went to work at the University of Kansas as a house director in the Sigma NU DTD fraternity house for 12 years. She was chosen by the university to serve on a committee to change the statement of documents. It was a great honor to be chosen for this committee.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Paola for 61 years, the Paola Country Club and Olathe Garden Club.
She worked for two years at Miami County Bank, which changed its name to TeamBank. She worked part-time at Miami County Administration for four years in human resources.
She always had a smile on her face and loved being out among people and playing golf. She truly enjoyed being outdoors. The family had an operation in the 1960s and 1970s of over 200 acres of apple orchards in Miami County.
Others preceding her in death were her daughter Karen, a grandson and two brothers, Harold and Carl Hanser.
Survivors include two daughters, Deanna Martin of Olathe and Debbie Rhea of Shawnee Mission; a son, Jack Rhea of Osawatomie; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; a brother, Vern Hanser of Olathe; and a sister, Beverly Kyle of Lawrence.
Services were Monday, followed by burial in Paola Cemetery. Arrangements were by Penwell-Gabel, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071, (913) 294-2372. To leave family condolences, go to www.penwellgabel.com.
The family suggests contributions to the American Heart Association or Community Blood Bank.