Billie Jean Helf was born on January 19, 1929, in Cookeville, Tennessee, the daughter of James L. Porter and Bertha E. (Young) Porter. She died September 18, 2018 in Chickasha, Oklahoma.
On January 28, 1948, she married Harrell Custer Helf in Oklahoma City. She had her Master’s Degree in Education and taught high school and junior high school.
Jean loved her family. As a wife, mother, missionary, and teacher, she touched many lives here and abroad. She was loved by those who knew her and especially by her family.
The family would like to share the following poem she wrote:
Lord keep me working,
keep me fit,
At windows I don’t
want to sit,
Watching my fellowman
hurrying by;
Let me stay busy ‘till I die.
Grant me the fit, the power,
the will,
Some useful niche in life
to fill,
This is my prayer as time goes by-
Lord keep me busy
‘till I die.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harrell; and a great-grandson, Jackson C. Wood.
Survivors include her sister, Patsy L. Porter of Chickasha; sons and daughters-in law, Marc Alan and Dianna Helf of Sterling, Illinois, Kevin Lane and Patti Helf of Collinsville, Oklahoma, Page Michael and Katie Helf of Chickasha; daughter and son-in law, Marta Lianne and Orville Voyles of Decatur, Arkansas; honorary daughter, Chrisellen Mullins of Chickasha; eight grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren; and other extended family and friends.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home. Jean had specified there would be no funeral service.