Colleen Lee Wooley

Wooley, Colleen Lee, passed away Tuesday, January 22, 2103. The service is 2:00 P.M., Monday, January 28, 2013, at Downing Lahey Mortuary East, 6555 E. Central. Preceded in death by her parents, Charles Lee Schreffler and Faye Marie (Hall) Schreffler and her sister, Geraldine (Donald) Ward. Survivors: husband, John B. Wooley; niece, Deborah (Don) Ackerly; and nephew, Charles Ackerly of Edmond, OK. Colleen was born December 13, 1930. She graduated from Wichita East High School and from Wichita State University in 1952 with a degree in Journalism. She quickly obtained employment at the Midway Kansas Chapter of the American Red Cross as the Public Relations Director. In August of 1958 she and John B. Wooley were united in marriage at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Wichita, both having found the love of their lives. Colleen had a sweet, mild, kindly disposition. She was industrious, gregarious, congenial, affectionate, and loved to make new acquaintances and new friends. Colleen loved her work at the American Red Cross. In the early sixties, with Johns encouragement, she resigned from the American Red Cross to have children. No children were born and when attempts at adoption failed she worked for the State of Kansas and Wichita University School of Music and other places. In the early seventies she returned to her love of journalism and returned to work as the Public Relations Director at the American Red Cross. She always enjoyed her work and the adventures of disaster relief work. She retired in 1991 after 30 years of service. Although she never had a formal lesson, Colleen loved to dance and she never missed a beat. The faster the music the better she liked it, like The 12th Street Rag, The Orange Blossom Special, and Muskrat Ramble. Numerous times, everyone on the dance floor would stop to watch her dance and then applaud her performance. The Irish mischievous sparkle in her eyes are gone now but she will always be loved and remembered by her husband John and those who knew her best. Flowers are welcome and appreciated. A memorial has been set up at Wichita State University School of Journalism, 1845 Fairmount St., Wichita, KS 67260, and gifts to the Alzheimers Association, 347 S. Laura, Wichita, KS 67211, are encouraged.