Helen M. Rhea

Helen M. Rhea, 84, Paola, died Wednesday, May 7, 2008, in Kindred Hospital, Kansas City, Mo.

She was born April 13, 1924, in 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.

Mrs. Rhea worked with her husband in the Jack Rhea Ford dealership for almost 30 years. After his passing in 1982, she went to work at the University of Kansas as a house director in the Sigma Nu Fraternity for 12 years. While there 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.

Mrs. Rhea worked for two years at Miami County National 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 more than 200 acres of apple orchards in Miami County.

Others preceding her in death were her daughter, Karen; a grandson; and two brothers, Harold Hanser and Carl Hanser.

Survivors include two daughters, Deanna Martin of Olathe and Debbie Rhea of Shawnee Mission; a son, Jack Rhea of Osawatomie; a brother, Vern Hanser of Olathe; a sister, Beverly Kyle of Lawrence; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one stepgreat-grandchild.

Services were Monday in the church, followed by burial in Paola Cemetery. Arrangements were by Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home in Paola.

The family suggests contributions to the American Heart Association or Community Blood Bank in care of the funeral home, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071.