HELEN WHITEHEAD

Helen Whitehead, 81, of Holton, died Monday, January 30, 2006 at the Holton Hospital.
She was born July 7, 1924 in Monett, MO, the daughter of Orville Columbus and Irma Irene Dickinson Crossland. She graduated from Gridley High School in 1942 and lived in Gridley until she moved to Holton in 1967. She was a member of the Gridley United Methodist Church and Phillips Stuckey Shaffer American Legion Auxiliary Unit #296 in Gridley.
Helen worked for Bender Hardware in Holton for 10 years, retiring in 1986. She was a member of the Holton Hospital Auxiliary and the V.F.W. Auxiliary both in Holton.
She was married to Joe Whitehead on May 21, 1942 in Burlington, KS. He preceded her in death on October 30, 1990. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Crossland and a grandson, Paige Carmichael.
Survivors include 2 daughters, Diana Jo Archer of Topeka and Peggy Sue Carmichael of Livingston, TX, 3 sisters, Juanita Trafton, Betty Anderson and Mary Ann Dierker, grandchildren, Jeff and Jason Beyer, Heather McMurphey and Shane Carmichael and 10 great-grandchildren.
She will lie in state at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton where family will greet friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening. Cremation will follow the visitation and graveside inurnment services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 3, 2006 at the Gridley Cemetery in Gridley, KS. Memorials may be given to the American Lung Association c/o Mercer Funeral Home, Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.