Helen M. Gilles

Helen M. Gilles 1922-2017 age, 95 died September 27, 2017. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul W Gilles and son-in-law, Larry Seidel. She is survived by children, Timothy (Sealy) Gilles, Becky (Kit) Richardson, Kathleen Seidel; nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren; additionally, by Mary Carter; best friend since 4th grade.

She was born in 1922 to Hazel and Montie Martin at home on the farm near Wellsville, Kansas.

Helen attend Prairie Bell one-room school and Paola High School. She attended the University of Kansas for both her undergraduate and medical degrees. In December 1944 Helen married Paul Wlison Gilles and graduated from KU Medical School in June 1945.

She did her pediatric internship and residency in Berkeley, California while Paul finished his Ph.D. and postdoctoral work at the University of California Berkeley. They returned to Lawrence in 1948 and Helen began her pediatric practice. Her practice was part-time which gave her time to be with her family, sew, quilt and be active in the community. She retired from private practice in 1982 but continued to practice medicine at the Student Health Service of Haskell Indian Nations University and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Clinic in Holton serving the Kickapoo, Potawatomi and Iowa reservations. She was an attentive and caring person in the Lawrence community. She was one of the founders of both the Lawrence Community Nursery School and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation. She served on the Lawrence School Board, the Lawrence Human Rights Commission, the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts and was chairman of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation. She was a Girl Scout leader for 10 years and Sunday School teacher at the Unitarian Fellowship. She was a pediatrician, friend, leader and mentor to many in the Lawrence community. Helen and Paul loved their second home in northern Minnesota which like Lawrence has a strong, thriving community.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2, 2017 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence, 1263 N. 1100 St.

Donations to KU Chemistry Department Paul and Helen Gilles Scholarship Fund (KU Endowment, Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044) or Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence (1263 N. 1100 St. Lawrence, KS 66047) and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

5 Condolences

  1. Cathy on November 22, 2017 at 1:33 pm

    Thanks for being a great Girl Scout Leader. Didn’t get any better at speaking to large groups. Even after you had me practice for hours and in front of the mirror. Thank You!



  2. Mattie L. Tubbs-Adelaja on November 29, 2017 at 9:07 am

    Thank you for your many years of service to the Lawrece community as the pediatrician to the Tubbs family. Your dedication to making the world a better place is a legacy that will live on forever. May your soul rest in heaven.
    Mattie Tubbs-Adelaja
    Houston, TX



  3. Mattie L. Tubbs-Adelaja on November 29, 2017 at 9:08 am

    Lawrencd



  4. Patrick J Halton on December 1, 2017 at 12:01 pm

    Patrick Halton
    Having had Dr. Paul as a chemistry professor, I never expected to have any type of working relationship with Dr. Helen, but I was privileged to work with her as a pharmacist at the Holton Indian Health Center. She was a joy to work with and a wonderful pediatrician. She made me a better pharmacist and a better parent. I will always miss her smile, her practical approach to medicine and caring attachment to all her patients.
    Holton, Ks



  5. Sean Williams on December 2, 2017 at 11:49 am

    What an impact! Helen was in instigator. Her vibrancy and intellectual involvement served as catalyst to Lawrence’s excellence. She was a leader, made an impact, affected those she governed and worked with, and for, and furthered her influence by nurturing great progeny. Whether blood-related or motivated by interaction: Long live her human legacy !



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