Eula Reath (Connes) Wilson, age 100 years and 8 months, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at home with family in Wichita, Ks.
She was born January 14, 1912 in Hoosier, Ks (near Great Bend, Ks) to Edward Connes and Ada America (Martin) Connes. She moved to Hodgeman County at age six and has been an active member of her community since then.
Eula married Albert Niles Wilson on Nov. 28, 1928. He preceded her in death on Aug. 4, 1970. Also preceding Eula in death were her parents; brothers Earl, Ervin, Everett, and Eugene Raymond; sisters, Elva Miller and Elma Reeda Houser; daughter, Fern (Wilson) Quirmbach, Grandaughter, Lois Jackson and Grandson, Jeremy James Bath, Grandsons-in-law Michael Ferrell and George Davis.
She is survived by her son-in-law Charles Quirmbach, Oceanside, CA, and her daughters Arylene Jackson of Jetmore, Lola and husband A.J. Magnino of Shawnee, OK, and Barbara and husband Jim Bath of Wichita, KS. Other survivors include Grandchildren Doug Quirmbach, Mark Quirmbach, Michelle Quirmbach, and Ted Quirmbach; Roland Jackson; Marcia (Jackson) Hall and husband, Gary; Kathie (Magnino) French and husband Jim; Beverly (Magnino) Lane and husband Rodney; Marilyn (Magnino) Davis; Jenny (Bath) Imhoff and husband, Kenneth and Julie (Bath) Lorenzen and husband, Corey. She is also survived by her thirty Great-Grandchildren, and forty-eight Great-Great-Grandchildren

Eula wrote a weekly column, GOD IN EVERYDAY LIFE, for the Jetmore Republican from October 13, 1999 until January 18, 2012. She also had several articles, poems and a song published. She was director for Child Evangelism in Hodgeman Country and held Good News Clubs in several homes in Jetmore as well as at Kidderville and Laurel county schools during the 1950's and 1960's. Eula was mostly a Homemaker, but worked as a telephone operator in the 1930's. After her husband's retirement from the County, she took training to be a nurse assistant. She worked for many years at the Hodgeman County Health Center, from which she retired at age 74. The last few years before retirement, Eula was the nurse on call when a new baby was born. She spent the first 24 hours caring for the newborns. She would care for, pray for, and often wonder what this precious new life would become some day. Lots of babies in Hodgeman County have been prayed for by Eula.
She taught Bible classes at different churches in Jetmore and when she was 90, Eula was teaching 5 Bible Classes a week in her home. God has used Eula to touch many lives in Hodgeman County. She was a light for Jesus wherever she went. Her son-in-law, Charles, aptly put it when he said that Eula had a high quality of patience that allowed her to accept things that could not be changed, and a gritty determination to confront things that could be changed.
Eula was a member of Jetmore's First Baptist Church where she worked with children many years ago and then taught youth and adults in Sunday School. By invitation she taught the UMC Esther Circle several years. She was a faithful attendee of the "Mother's At Prayer" group and was part of the "Hodgeman County Prayer Strategy" group from its inception where every person in Hodgeman County was placed on a prayer list. She faithfully prayed for her neighbors. She poured out God's love to her community by teaching, visiting, mentoring, encouraging and modeling how to live a life of faith and hope.
Eula's heart was always with family. She was a devoted Mother and Grandmother. She loved traveling and made two trips to Israel, but most traveling was to delight in every occasion in which her grandchildren and great grandchildren participated. Writing letters was her ministry and she wrote every family member often. The greatest gift she has given her family is not houses or lands, but a legacy of faith and a life lived for Jesus. Eula used to leave a message on her phone each time she left the house telling where she was going and when she expected to be back. If a family member would call and she wasn't home, they could use the access code and get the message so they knew where she was. She ended every message with, "I love you" because she always said if something happened to her while she was gone, she wanted the last words her family heard to be "I love you."

Services for Eula will be held at the First Baptist Church Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, at 2:00 pm., with Pastor Rod McMillian and Rev. Mark Durham presiding. Visitation will be from 9a.m. to 8p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore.
Memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church Kid's Club or the United Methodist Church Good News Club, c/o Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663 Jetmore, Ks 67854. Both clubs are connected to Child Evangelism which was dear to Eula's heart.