Born Helen Lucile Streeter on March 13, 1933, and passed from this life peacefully at home on January 15, 2019. Helen was raised in a large family of 11 siblings of Cherokee heritage. She learned early
the value of hard work, a quality she exhibited the rest of her life. She was an avid gardener, often growing the majority of the family's food and plentiful flowers. She had a special interest in irises and at one time had multiple varieties. She was knowledgeable about edible wild plants, and often shared the flavors of special herbs with others. An artist, she enjoyed oil and acrylic painting as well as many hand crafts.
Helen worked at many jobs over her life, including fabricating mobile homes, as a masseuse, and as a hospital housekeeper. She remembered her years in hospital work with great fondness. She was a caregiver to several people in their old age, without compensation or regret.
She married Harold Ackerman and had a son, Richard. Divorced from Harold, she married Orville "Pat" Bailey and had a daughter Sheila. Sheila died in an accident at age 3. She helped raise Pat's other children, including Edward and Darlene, and was always proud of their accomplishments in law and nursing. After Pat's death, she married Andrew Stewart. Following Andy's death, she retired to her son's farm in Noel and lived the remainder of her life there growing a large iris collection and helping with gardening and keeping house. She was a calm and steady presence.
She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husbands, and daughter, and survived by a son, step son, grandchildren and great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held January 26, 2019 at Holy Valley Apostolic Church in Noel.
No comments:
Post a Comment