Irene Thresea Ann (Soukup) Healey, 95, of Perryton, Tx completed her life journey on Tuesday, February 2, 2021.
Irene was born on October 15, 1925 to Frank Joseph and Albina
Catherine (Tymer) Soukup on the family farm near Wilson, Ks. The family
worked hard to sustain farm life, and Irene had many stories to tell
about her wonderful childhood. She attended Pleasant Valley country
school. In the summers, she would help other farm families with cooking
and caring for children, especially during harvest season. Her father,
Frank, not only farmed, but he also played the concertina in a polka
band. Weekends were filled with dancing. At one of these dances, Irene
met the love of her life, James Patrick Healey. James was also a Wilson
native and newly returned from serving in Europe during World War II. On
October 28, 1947, Irene and James were married at the Saint Bernard
Catholic Church in Ellsworth, Ks.
Together they raised three children, Juliana Louise Healey Sursa,
James Patrick Healey II, and Timothy Joseph Healey. The family resided
in Wilson, Ks but in 1958, they moved to Perryton, Tx. Perryton remained
Irene’s home for the remainder of her life. She was a member of the
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, and in her younger days, she was a
member of the Alter Society. She also made many pies for church
functions.
Irene was a loving wife and mother. She was an excellent cook and
homemaker. She loved her beautiful flower gardens, and at each home in
which she lived, she always had a cactus garden. Her greatest pride was
her family, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She joins her husband, James, of 58 years; her parents, Frank and
Albina; two sisters, Helen Mickulecky and Leona Scantland; along with
numerous relatives and friends who are in God’s home.
Surviving Irene are her children, Juliana and Rick Sursa of
Tucumcari, NM, James Healey of Spearman, Tx and Timothy and Tina Healey
of Topeka, Ks. She is survived by nine loving grandchildren; Ronald and
Lara Sursa, Summer and Toby Smith, Katherine Sursa, Curtis and Alyssa
Sursa, James P. Healey III and Heather, Kimberley and Brian Edwards, and
Ashley and Jessie Burkhalter. Irene has fourteen great-grandchildren
and two lovely former daughters-in-law, Delores Healey and Rhonda
Shafer. Irene is also survived by her sister, Edna Buehler of Wilson, Ks
and her brother, Victor and Sharen Soukup of Garden City, Ks; along
with numerous nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to say a special thank you to Dr. Rick Siewert and
the nurses and staff of Hospice of Ochiltree General Hospital in
Perryton, Tx.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, February 9, 2021
at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilson, KS with
Father Tony Kulandaijesu officiating. Burial will follow in Wilson
Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 8, 2020 from 4:00
p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with a vigil at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Irene loved flowers, but in lieu of flowers, donations to the
Ochiltree Hospice Volunteers, 2309 S. Cedar, Perryton, Tx 79070 or St.
Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, Tn 38148-0142
would be appreciated.