Helen Smades

Helen Mae Kean Smades, age 96, passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at the Wichita County Long Term Care Center in Leoti, Kansas. Helen was born September 9, 1913 at Tribune, Kansas, the daughter of Harry & Ethel O'Neal Kean. Following her graduation from Greeley County High School in Tribune, Kansas in 1931, Helen became a teacher in the Greeley County school system. On June 10, 1934 she married Bob E. Smades at Russell Springs, Kansas. He passed away on March 28, 1983 at Leoti, Kansas. Aside from time during WW Two, when she worked on B-29's at Boeing Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas, she was a lifetime resident of Wichita County, Kansas. They returned to the Pleasant Valley community in Wichita County, Kansas, where because of a shortage of teachers, she was asked to teach at the Pleasant Valley School. She then taught at Beulah School before beginning her 29 years of service at R.B. Stewart Elementary School in Leoti, Kansas, retiring in 1981. During her early years in Leoti, she drove to Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on weekends and summers in order to later earn her Bachelors of Education degree in 1963 at age 50. Helen was a member of the Leoti United Methodist Church, having been baptized at the age of 92. She was also a charter member of the Red Hat, Purple Dress group as well as her coffee and bridge clubs. Helens Survivors include- One daughter- Noreen Walk- Leoti, Kansas One son and his wife- Jack & Lois Smades- Larned, Kansas Three grandsons Rex and his wife Kay Walk- McPherson, Kansas Karl Walk- Leoti, Kansas Darin Walk- Leoti, Kansas Three granddaughters Dana and her husband Joe Hammeke- Belpre, Kansas Jan Smades- Hays, Kansas Leigh Anne and her husband Cory Stelter- Larned, Kansas Great Grandchildren- Jenny, Kolin & Shea Walk- McPherson, Kansas Doug & Mecia Luebbers- Syracuse, Kansas Tim & Jennifer Luebbers- Tribune, Kansas Ryan Luebbers- Leoti, Kansas Stepheni Luebbers- Larned, Kansas Madison Burch- Belpre, Kansas Brooke & Robert McCullough- Hays, Kansas Anna Smades- DeSoto, Kansas Tyler, Megan & Jack Stelter- Larned, Kansas Great Great Grandchildren- Jaren, Bryson & Jozie Luebbers- Syracuse, Kansas Brittany & Carson Luebbers- Tribune, Kansas Her parents, brothers, Frank & John Kean, sisters, Gertrude Kean & Betty Zordell, a grandson Gary Smades and twin Great Grandsons Nicholas & Nathan McCollough preceded her in death. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, December 14, 2009 at the United Methodist Church in Leoti, Kansas with the Reverend Mike Howard officiating. Burial will be in Beulah Cemetery in rural Wichita County, Kansas. Friends may call from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday and from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday at Price and Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas. Memorials may be given to the Wichita County Fire Department or the United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home.