Henrietta Paris

Henrietta "Henri" Paris, 95, Junction City, Kansas passed away at her daughter's home in Junction City, KS on October 7, 2008. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will take place 10 a.m., Wednesday, October 15, 2008, at the Penwell-Gabel Mass-Hinitt Funeral Chapel 805 Caroline Avenue, Junction City, KS.

She was born on August 19, 1913 to Otto and Daisy (Prouty) Schultz in Junction City. A graduate of Junction City High School in the class of 1931 she has remained a lifetime resident of Junction City.

She married William "Bill" Paris August 31, 1941. He preceded her in death November 12, 1983.

Henri and Bill had four children; Bill Paris, Santa Rosa, CA, O.J. Paris, Manhattan, KS, Daisy Paris, Junction City, KS, and Larry Paris, Taiwan, ROC.

Survivors include her children, seven grandchildren; Heather Paris, Charles Valentine, Phillip Valentine, Jamie Prickett, Jason Paris, Chris Paris, and Emily Paris, four great-grandchildren; Kaleb Prickett, Ciaran Prickett, Alexandria Paris, and Maya Paris, her brother Charles W. Schultz, Rockaway Beach, MO, and a niece, Judy Gardner, Junction City, KS and nephews Mark, Dennis and Steve Schultz.

Henri was also preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Daisy Schultz, brother Clarence S. Schultz and her sister Josephine "Jo" Harding.

Henri worked on Fort Riley in the basement of Patton Hall. It was there she met her husband, Bill. After they were married she chose to stay at home and take care of her family.

She preferred being outside and spent much of her time tending to her flowers and bushes and visiting with God's creatures. She would greet them with "hello friend" if they ventured her way. Her love for animals was evident - she always had a pet, cats, dogs, birds, hamsters, and even fed a possum in the fall and winter season. Her granddaughter said she could not remember a time when grandma didn't have a pet of some kind.

Her only employment was working on the election board which she did faithfully until she was in her late 80s.

Henri had the distinction of being the most senior member of the First Baptist Church of Junction City. She joined the church in April of 1926. Other church members remember the family walked to church from their home located just a block from the church for many, many years.

She and her sister attended faithfully always sitting in the same back-row pew until she broke her hip and was no longer able to drive. That allowed short visits with other members as their way into the church. She continued to listen to the services every Sunday on KJCK.

Like her sister, Henri shunned attention. She wouldn't attend the 50-year member recognition ceremonies. Asked about attending this year, her response was "attend something at church with out Jo? I don't think so."

Her life was centered on her family. She would tell them "I love you" daily and always when they were leaving even if it was just for a short time.

Her wit never left her. Recently O.J. had been to visit and when he was leaving she told him with a twinkle in her eye "I like you O.J." instead of her standard "I love you." - probably just to keep him wondering why she changed the wording of her standard departure phrase.

Another of her catchy phrases when asked where she was going was "I'm going crazy - wanna go along?"

Henri was very close to her grandchildren. They remember fondly being at grandma's house and her having fresh veggies for them to eat as snacks. They also remember her jello- red with pineapple and shredded carrots.

Often when visiting her they would go out to eat at Wendy's for the all you can eat chili, Dairy Queen or McDonald's for a meal deal - nothing elaborate but fun with grandma. Memories include things like watching the snow fall in the street lights, and just enjoying the day with her.

When Daisy's son Charles left for his Marine Corps basic training on July 14 he told her that he would be back in three months. She told him that she would try to hang in there for that long - and she tried but after losing her sister her health declined rapidly and she lost the battle just five days too soon.

Henri will be missed by her family and friends but they all know she's in a better place reunited with her sister and other family members that she's missed so much.