Betty Eileen Layton Rhea, age 93, died Saturday, June 2, 2018, at the Logan County Manor, Oakley, Kansas.  She was born March 15, 1925 in Fort Scott, Kansas to Chleo Ray and Hazel Bea Bradshaw Layton, the youngest of four children.

She attended schools in Ft. Scott and graduated from Ft. Scott High School with the class of 1942.  She graduated from Ft. Scott Community Jr. College and then went to work as the secretary to the president of Kansas Gas and Electric Company.

While Eileen's sister, Kathleen, was a nursing student in Kansas City, Eileen boarded a train in Ft. Scott to go visit.  She took what she thought was an un-occupied seat.  A young soldier traveling home to visit his parents before being shipped overseas, also claimed the seat.  They exchanged names and addresses, and corresponded for the duration of WWII, until Harold's return from Europe.

She and her sister moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she worked as a personal shopper for the Brown-Duncan Department stores.  She and the young soldier, Harold Lockard Rhea, were married March 17, 1946, in Ft. Scott and then made their home on the farm west of Oakley for nearly 61 ½ years until Harold's death on August 29, 2007.  They were the parents of seven children.

Eileen will be remembered as a life-long cat lover; an excellent cook; seamstress; and needle worker, with crocheting, counted cross-stitch and plastic canvas work being her specialties.  She enjoyed flower gardening, particularly growing gladiolus, and decorating her home, especially for the holidays.

She bowled on several teams and sang in the church choir for many years.  She was a talented cake decorator, baking hundreds of cakes, especially wedding cakes.  She volunteered as a reading para at the Monument Attendance Center as she felt everyone should be able to read.

Eileen was a member of the Oakley United Methodist Church, a life member of the VFW Auxiliary and several historical societies.

Eileen was preceded in death, in addition to her husband, by her parents; two sons, Stuart Layton Rhea and Jeffrey Curtis Rhea; daughter, Cathy Jane Leighton; grandsons: Shannon Rhea Schmidt, in infancy, and Trenton Lockard Rhea; sister, Kathleen Hagelstein; two brothers: Gail Layton, in infancy, and Harlan Layton; son-in-law, Michael Howard, and step-grandchildren: Diane Hort and Jance Kruse.

Eileen is survived by her son, Marshall Rhea, and wife, Julie, Oakley; three daughters: Patricia Stockham and husband, Glenn, Wichita; Nancy Howard, Garden City; and Julie Flores and husband, John, Gardner.  Also surviving are three  granddaughters: Amy Stockham and Lisa Stockham, Wichita; and Samantha Repshire, Oakley; eight grandsons, Taos Leighton, Quinter; Clint Howard and Mitch Howard, Garden City; Travis Rhea, Florida; Grant Repshire, England; Jace Repshire, Kansas City; Alan Rhea, Kentucky, currently serving in Iraq; and Russell Rhea, Georgia.  Thirteen great-granddaughters: Taylor Repshire and Elizabeth Repshire; Madison Cline; Autumn, Joanna and Abigail Rhea; Karly, Kamryn, Kynadee, Kymber and Kaydin Howard; Brynna Rhea; and Anne Repshire; two great-grandsons; Daniel Rhea and Oliver Rhea; two great-great-grandchildren: Lukas Repshire and Kylee Repshire; many step-grands and step-greats; and son-in-law, Yancy Leighton, Quinter.

Memorials are suggested to the Oakley United Methodist Church, the Butterfield Trail Association Museum, Fick Fossil Museum, ant the Oakley Public Library in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Oakley.

Online Guestbook:  www.kennedykosterfh.com