Helen M. Kitty (Whitehead) Kite

Kite, Helen “Kitty” M. (Whitehead), 78, former legal secretary, abstractor and volunteer, passed away Sunday, July 4, 2010. A graveside service will be held at Maple Grove Cemetery, 1000 N. Hillside, near the Civil War Pavilion at a later date. Kitty is survived by her only child, J. Greg Kite, of Wichita. Kitty is preceded in death by her parents, Shelby S. Whitehead and Gladys C. (Cockrell) Means. Kitty was born August 28, 1931 in Wichita, KS and was an only child, as was her mother, Gladys. She grew up in Wichita, playing the accordion and modeling, eventually being named “Miss Safeway” at age 5. In fact, as a child, Kitty so resembled Shirley Temple that she once wrote to the actress, including a picture, to which the actress replied, astonished at the resemblance. She attended East High School, graduating in 1949, and worked across the street in her fathers business, the “Whitehead Bakery.” She attended the University of Kansas, majoring in Home economics and earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1956 and a Masters Degree in Fine Arts in 1958. Kitty was married on December 17, 1950 in Lawrence, KS to John G. Kite. They had one child, J. Greg Kite, born in 1953. John and Kitty moved to St. Francis, KS in 1958 where she worked in her husbands law office as a full time legal secretary. She also took pride in keeping the house immaculate and the landscape manicured. Her nephew, Bob Warren, remembered that his dad, Dick Warren, once found a weed and placed it on top of the “Yard of the Month” sign just to aggravate her. Her niece, Gale Warren, recalled: “I remember her coming around the corner right after our family arrived at the house in her bikini, sunglasses and little kitten heel shoes. WOW, that image is seared into my brain! She also drove Lisa (Gales sister) and I to Denver in the convertible, where we had a fancy lunch and then she took us to buy shoes. She had style, and lots of it.” Kitty had a loom and enjoyed weaving anything from placemats to rugs. She had a gift for decorating and loved to entertain, particularly during the holidays. Her niece, Gale Warren, remembered: “Kitty made a killer 12 layer mint chocolate torte, which could have been featured on the cover of any Gourmet magazine.” Her nephew, Tom Kite, recalled: “I have always remembered what a gracious hostess she was. I know when our family was invited to a special meal at the house, I was always a bit awestruck by the elaborate table settings and the wonderful food.” Her nephew, Tim Kite, remembered: “I always admired and respected Kitty, especially her creativity.” In describing a birthday party she threw for her son, her nephew, Ed Kite, recalled: “I remember Kitty making sure every child was included in the fun, with no one being left out. I cant remember what the party favors were, but I do remember thinking Wow, I didnt realize the guests got gifts, too!” Kitty was an avid collector of unique liqueur glasses and antique napkin rings. She spoiled the family Irish setter “Kerry” and when pheasant hunting season came around, she went, too. She was a crack shot with a 20 gauge Browning over and under shotgun and she didnt just block at the end of the field, but walked through the brush like any other hunter. This made an impression on her nephew, Tom Kite, who stated: “I remember going pheasant hunting with Dad and Uncle John and finding, much to my surprise, that Aunt Kitty was part of the hunting party and even had her own shotgun!” Although she was involved with and served as an officer in a number of local organizations, nothing gave her more satisfaction than being a Girl Scout Leader. While she was tough on the girls and wouldnt tolerate any fear of spiders or snakes, there wasnt anything she wouldnt do for them. She taught them to cook and camp with the best of them. She also took them on field trips to Denver, as well as hosted parties for them at the house. Kitty adored the people of St. Francis and that feeling was only surpassed by her love for and admiration of her mother-in-law, Ruby Kite. In Rubys later years, Kitty delivered meals to her, maintained the garden next to her apartment and took her for rides in the car, often times stopping for an ice cream cone on the way back. Subsequently, Kitty trained under and became employed by Mrs. Josephine Jaqua Churchill in the R.M. Jaqua Abstract Co. from 1967 through 1969. While in St. Francis, she was a member of the United Methodist Church. She and her husband, John, were divorced in 1969. Thereafter, Kitty moved to Lawrence, KS and became employed with the Douglas County Abstract Title Co. as an abstractor from 1970 through 1977. From 1978 through 1979, she was employed by the University of Kansas at the Center for Public Affairs. Subsequently, she moved back to Wichita to help take care of her parents. Kitty served as a volunteer at the Wichita Art Museum, Riverside Hospital, First Presbyterian Church and Wesley Medical Center where she worked more hours than any other volunteer - 16,000 hours in both 2006 and 2007. While Kitty enjoyed her service as a volunteer, it was the people she loved, both the ones she served and the ones she worked with. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wichita. Perhaps the words of her niece, Lisa Warren, capture it best: “She was a trendsetter. She was adorable. She will be missed.” Kitty sustained a fractured left hip in December of 2007 and a fractured right hip in January of 2008. Thereafter, her health progressively deteriorated and she was hospitalized in late June. Kitty always said she wanted to go out with a bang. Little did she know how prophetic those words would be - passing on the 4th of July! While somewhat unorthodox, in keeping with Kittys desire to share her talents, the following recipe, a summer favorite, is included. Ironically, this recipe was featured in the Lawrence Journal-World newspaper on July 4, 1977. PEACH ICE CREAM (About 1 1/2 quarts) Let the following ingredients stand until sugar is dissolved: 4 pounds ripe peaches, pared, sliced and mashed 1/2 cup sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt Combine the following ingredients partly churn-freeze in ice cream freezer (when half-frozen, add the fruit mixture, above): 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice 1/2 cup sugar 2 cups cream (or half n half) 2 cups whipping cream At the same time the mashed fruit mixture is added to the half-frozen cream mixture, add two coarsely chopped peaches. Serve topped with a mixture of toasted slivered almonds and toasted shredded coconut. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with the Historic Preservation Alliance of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Inc., 230 North Market, Suite 201, Wichita, KS 67202-2006. Downing Lahey Mortuary East. A graveside service will be held at Maple Grove Cemetery, 1000 N. Hillside, near the Civil War Pavilion.