Helen L. Speaker

OBITUARY: Helen L. Speaker

Helen L. Speaker, 83, Topeka, died Fri., Feb. 17, 2006 at Lexington Park Nursing Center.

She was born July 22, 1922, in Augusta, KS the daughter of William Wilson Doty and Goldie Pearle Doty. She survived her sister Elta Ferne Bausch, step-sister Lola Elliott and step-brother Otis Doty.

Helen graduated from Hoyt High School in 1941. She was active in Girls Glee Club, Choir, Girl Reserve, Pep Club, Girl Scouts and on the business staff of the Golden Reflector. She also participated in track and basketball during her high school days.

She married Leonard R. Speaker at sunrise at the Methodist Church in Hoyt on June 21, 1942. Mr. Speaker preceded her in death on July 3, 2005. They farmed 480 acres in the Hoyt area and she worked for Security Benefti Association. In 1946 they moved to Leavenworth, where she worked for Missouri Valley Steel, Chief Deputy County Clerk, Deputy County Assessor, legal secretary, payroll clerk, and was a special assistant to the Leavenworth County Commissioners and sold real estate. She established the Neighborhood House Community Center, where she served as the first Executive Director. She also held leadership positions in several civic organizations including the Leavenworth United Methodist Church, League of Women Voters. YWCA and the Leavenworth Public School system. She was the founder of the "Friends of the Leavenworth Courts" a program that helped give delinquent minors a second chance. In 1972 she received the first "Brotherhood Award" from the Leavenworth City Council.

Upon her retirement she returned to the Topeka area, where she started Speaker & Associates Management Corporation. She held full certification from the National Center for Housing Management and provided management training and consulting services to several corporations throughout the U.S. While in Topeka she was a member of the Lowman United Methodist Church. After her second retirement she and Leonard spent their winters in the Rio Grand Valley of Texas.

Her survivors include a son, Randy L. Speaker, and wife, Colleen, Topeka; a daughter, Linda F. Rosito, and husband, Mario, Guatemala City, Guatemala; eight grandchildren, Shannon Speaker, Trent Speaker, Triston Speaker, LeighAnna Kruger, Jarrod Kruger, Marco Rosito, Monica Anderson and Mario E. Rosito; and five great-grandchildren, Aiden Speaker-Boleski, Samantha Anderson, Austin Anderson, Clara Rosito and Brianna Rosito.

She was described as a "loving wife and mother who always put her family and friends first." Her favorite business motto was "people do what you inspect -- not what you expect."

A funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Fri., Feb. 24, 2006, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel in North Topeka. Interment will be in Penwell-Gabel's Memorial Park Cemetery following the service.

Mrs. Speaker will lie in state after 1:00 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 23, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, 1720 S.W. Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66612.

To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.Penwell-Gabel.com.