HELEN ESTELLA (WATSON) WISE, 101, of Udall, Kansas, passed away Wednesday morning, February 25, 2009 at her home.

Born August 22, 1907 ten miles north of Winfield on a dairy farm, she was the daughter of Harry Arthur and Mattie Alice (Hill) Watson. She was raised in the Winfield and Udall area, attending Dale Grade School.

Helen was united in marriage to Oscar Bernard Wise on December 23, 1925 in Wichita. The couple made their first home two and a half miles south of Udall. They were the parents of William Bernie, Mary Ellen and Nancy Carol. As a young woman, Helen worked on a dairy farm. She worked for the Winfield State Training School from 1952 to 1957, when she was forced to quit to care for her ailing husband. Mrs. Wise made her career as a house wife and homemaker taking care of her family. The couple raised 19 foster boys and 17 foster girls in addition to their immediate children. Mr. Wise preceded her in death in 1967.

Helen became a member of the United Brothern Church in 1920 and was baptized in the Walnut River. She joined the First Baptist Church of Udall on November 2, 2003. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She joined the Rebekah March in 1937 and remained a member of Rebekah Lodge #473. In 1947, she joined the Royal Neighbors. She was also a member of the Udall Rug Club and the Co-operette Farm Club (FCE). Mrs. Wise enjoyed crocheting, rug hook and spending time with her family.

Her family includes:
Her daughter: Mary E. Norton of Udall;
Her grandchildren: Ronald Wayne Wise and wife, Carolyn, Bryan Eugene Wise Valentine and wife, Pat, Candace Irene Wise Martinez and husband, Milton, Judy Carol Winstead Frazier and companion Robert Barber, Robert Alan Winstead and wife, Helen, Steven Todd Hodges and wife, Terry, Bernie Lynn Hodges, and LeAnn Renee Hodges Esslinger and husband, Mark;
Her great-grandchildren: Angelique Janel Wise Zigler, Veronica Lynn Wise Conner, Marcella Grace Wise, Natalie Marie Wise, Christopher Devlynn Valentine, Anthony Bryan Valentine, Melissa Ann Martinez, Susanne Michelle Martinez Gardner, Crystal Lynn Martinez, Kimberly Renee Frazier Korenek, Robert Don Frazier, Kristy Ellen Winstead Anderson, Nathan Gerald Esslinger, Lindsey Carol Esslinger, Kaitlyn Marie Hodges, and Steven Gerald Hodges;
Her great-great-grandchildren: Kaden Frazier, Joseph, Bernie and Julius Zigler, Christopher Anderson, Jeshua and Charles Gardner, Nathan Conner and Chris Valentine; and
Her step-great-grandchildren: Justin Anderson and Cole and Emma Korenek.

In addition to her parents and husband, Helen was preceded in death by her son William Bernie Wise on July 30, 1963, her daughter Nancy Hodges on August 20, 1998, her son-in law Donald Ray Norton on July 11, 1999, her brothers, Arthur Abraham Watson, Ralph James Watson, John Ward Watson, and Pearl Alexander Watson, her sisters, Della Elinor Smith, Mattie Harrietta Watson, Mary Jane Conley, Anna Evelyn Thomas, and Bertha Marie Elam.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2009, at 2:00 P.M. at the Udall First Baptist Church. Interment will follow at the Ninnescah Cemetery. Friends may call at Miles Funeral Service on Friday evening from 5 to 9.

Memorials have been established in Mrs. Wise's name for the Udall First Baptist Church and for the Udall First Responders. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.