Aleen Henderson

Daily Courier Paid Obituary for ALEEN G. HENDERSON   Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home 303 S Cortez St. Prescott, AZ  86303   Attn: Tim   Please run this obit in Courier paper.  Thank you.   *For MONDAY*   Daily Courier Paid Obituary for ALEEN G. HENDERSON   Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home 303 S Cortez St. Prescott, AZ  86303   Attn: Tim   Please run this obit in Courier paper.  Thank you.   *For MONDAY*  Aleen Gillespie Henderson died April 1, 2005 at Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott.  She was born to A.C. and Alma Gillespie near Springfield, Missouri on March 16, 1917.  She grew up in Missouri and Kansas, going to Peabody High School, when Raymond Henderson, the love of her life, moved to town.  They were together constantly through high school and college until Jan. 1, 1937 when they were married.  Raymond taught music until World War II started.  He enlisted in the Navy and served four years.  Except for the months he was at sea, Aleen was with him moving all over the country. After the war they returned to Augusta, Kansas where he taught music and played in the Wichita Symphony.  In 1949 they got itchy feet and moved to Prescott to see what the west was like for a year.  Nearly 56 years later they are still here. During the 28 years Raymond taught music, Aleen was a great assistant, looking after the girls on music trips, making several sets of twirls uniforms, and looking after his music while he was trying to hear all of his students.  She was a wonderful helper and the students loved her, too. Shortly before Ray retired in 1977, Aleen took some woodcarving lessons and got him started.  They began a very successful business called ?Carvings by Aleen and Ray.?  They worked together, selling over 13,000 pieces all over the country.  She was so proud of this experience. Aleen loved her dogs, always having two cocker spaniels and April, the last one, has really missed her since Aleen has been in a nursing home. She also loved music and singing in the church choir that Raymond directed for 45 years.  She learned to play cello when she was 45 to play in the Prescott Strings and Yavapai Symphony Orchestra.  Aleen was a member of the United Methodist Church. Memorial services will be on Tuesday, April 5 at 11:00 a.m. at the Prescott United Methodist Church, Cremation will be private at Bradshaw Crematory in Prescott Valley.