1921
Alice
2013
Alice Wilson
May 2, 1921 — June 7, 2013
Alice May (Pettay) Wilson was born May 2, 1921 in Helena, Oklahoma to James Robert and Mahaley E. (Smith) Pettay, the youngest of eight children. She departed this life on June 07, 2013 at the age of 92 years. Funeral service will be Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 10:30 am at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Kiowa. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery
As a child, Alice moved “pillar to post” (as she put it), especially after the family had to give up their Oklahoma homestead in the Gloss Mountains area due to the “dust bowl.” The family travelled to where ever work could be found, often following the fruit harvest. They finally re-settled in the Helena, Okklahoma area during her father’s declining years. From there, Alice went to the Sneary farm to assist Mrs. Sneary. Jess Palmer Sneary ran the farming operations for his mother. Alice & Jess were united in marriage on February 21, 1942. To this union four children were born; Baby Girl, Limuel Wesley, Zola Louise and Bobby Joe. The Snearys eventually settled into Kiowa, Kansas where Alice vowed she would stay until all her children were grown and through with school… no “pillar to post” for her children. Mr. Sneary died in 1956. In 1958, Alice married Harold “Pop” Wilson and to their union two more children were born; Terrie Faye and Tracy Eugene. They continued to make their home in Kiowa, Kansas.
Many in Kiowa knew Alice from her days in the restaurant business. Twice, she ran her own first, the West Side Café & then Alice’s Café. She also worked at the Pavilion Inn, Kit’s Café, Brattin’s Luncheonette, The VIP Club, The Supper Club and finally as cook and dietician for the Kiowa Manor, from which she retired. After Mr. Wilson passed in 1987, Alice had knee surgery and eventually took on a part-time position with The Green Thumb organization. Mrs. Wilson was very family oriented and whenever someone needed care, she was there. She always stayed “in touch,” either in person, by mail or by phone. When the time came for Alice to move into a care facility, she insisted on the one in Kiowa because, “I know the people there,” she said. She decided many years before that she would settle in Kiowa and that is where she remained.
Besides her parents and two husbands, Mrs. Wilson was preceded in death by four brothers – Carl, Ruffus, Voyd and Arley; three sisters – Goldie Musser-Williams, Cora Paige, Maggie Hunt; two sons – Limuel and Tracy; one daughter – Baby Girl; three step-sons – John H. Wilson, F. L. Wilson, Dale Wilson; and four grandsons – Mike Wilson, Jerry Medlam, Daniel Wilson, Joshua Wilson
She is survived by: son – Bob Sneary and Pattie Pabon of Wichita; daughters – Zola Sneary of Wichita and Terrie and Ron Williamson of Cheshire, MA; daughter-in-law, Norma Sneary of Wichita; step-son – James A. and Jean Wilson, Topeka; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends and acquaintances.
Memorials may be made to the Kiowa Manor activity fund and given to the funeral home.
Visitation will be Monday, June 10, 2013 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm with the family present from 4:00 pm to 6:00pm to receive friends.
As a child, Alice moved “pillar to post” (as she put it), especially after the family had to give up their Oklahoma homestead in the Gloss Mountains area due to the “dust bowl.” The family travelled to where ever work could be found, often following the fruit harvest. They finally re-settled in the Helena, Okklahoma area during her father’s declining years. From there, Alice went to the Sneary farm to assist Mrs. Sneary. Jess Palmer Sneary ran the farming operations for his mother. Alice & Jess were united in marriage on February 21, 1942. To this union four children were born; Baby Girl, Limuel Wesley, Zola Louise and Bobby Joe. The Snearys eventually settled into Kiowa, Kansas where Alice vowed she would stay until all her children were grown and through with school… no “pillar to post” for her children. Mr. Sneary died in 1956. In 1958, Alice married Harold “Pop” Wilson and to their union two more children were born; Terrie Faye and Tracy Eugene. They continued to make their home in Kiowa, Kansas.
Many in Kiowa knew Alice from her days in the restaurant business. Twice, she ran her own first, the West Side Café & then Alice’s Café. She also worked at the Pavilion Inn, Kit’s Café, Brattin’s Luncheonette, The VIP Club, The Supper Club and finally as cook and dietician for the Kiowa Manor, from which she retired. After Mr. Wilson passed in 1987, Alice had knee surgery and eventually took on a part-time position with The Green Thumb organization. Mrs. Wilson was very family oriented and whenever someone needed care, she was there. She always stayed “in touch,” either in person, by mail or by phone. When the time came for Alice to move into a care facility, she insisted on the one in Kiowa because, “I know the people there,” she said. She decided many years before that she would settle in Kiowa and that is where she remained.
Besides her parents and two husbands, Mrs. Wilson was preceded in death by four brothers – Carl, Ruffus, Voyd and Arley; three sisters – Goldie Musser-Williams, Cora Paige, Maggie Hunt; two sons – Limuel and Tracy; one daughter – Baby Girl; three step-sons – John H. Wilson, F. L. Wilson, Dale Wilson; and four grandsons – Mike Wilson, Jerry Medlam, Daniel Wilson, Joshua Wilson
She is survived by: son – Bob Sneary and Pattie Pabon of Wichita; daughters – Zola Sneary of Wichita and Terrie and Ron Williamson of Cheshire, MA; daughter-in-law, Norma Sneary of Wichita; step-son – James A. and Jean Wilson, Topeka; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends and acquaintances.
Memorials may be made to the Kiowa Manor activity fund and given to the funeral home.
Visitation will be Monday, June 10, 2013 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm with the family present from 4:00 pm to 6:00pm to receive friends.
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