Obituary for Imogene Helems

Ponca City Now - February 1, 2017 5:12 pm

Imogene Doris Helems

(May 20, 1926 – January 30, 2017)

Imogene Doris Helems, resident of Ponca City, passed away Monday, January 30, 2017 at the age of 90 years.

Imogene was born May 20, 1926 in Cushing, OK, the daughter of Buell W. Walker and Lillie Ellen Walker. In the early 1930’s her family relocated to Ponca City. During WWII Imogene worked in the Ponca City Conoco Refinery. Her photo working at the refinery is displayed at the Conoco Museum. She was a hometown girl and a strikingly beautiful woman who won the heart of the only man she ever loved out of a host of many suitors. In 1946 she married the love of her life, Don Helems. They made a home together in Ponca City for 66 years.

Imogene was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. She was an accomplished seamstress making many of her young children’s clothes. She enjoyed crocheting and made baby blankets for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Imogene and Don loved to travel and in retirement spent months every year at Broken Bow Lake with their 31 Camping Group. She loved to have family home for the holidays and made many memorable meals.

She is survived by her son, Jerry Helems and wife Becky of Ponca City, daughter, Donna Helems of Ponca City, grandchildren, Tiffany Helems of Lewisville, TX, Todd Helems and wife Jessica of Houston, TX, Steve Thompson of Arlington, VA, Ben Thompson and wife Tina of Grapevine, TX, Corinne Ravello and husband, Gustavo of Edmond; great-grandchildren, Zara and Sophia Thompson of Grapevine, TX, Matteo Ravello of Edmond, sister, Patsy Odum of Ponca City, and bother, Jim Walker of Ponca City.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sister, Jeanetta Cron, brother, JC Walker and husband, Don Helems.

Friends and family may pay their respects at Trout Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 2, 2017 from 5 pm- 8 pm and Thursday February 3, from 8 am- 8pm.

A funeral ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, February 3, 2017, at Woodlands Christian Church with Rev. Loma Sullivan presiding. Interment will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Ponca City. Following interment family and friends are invited to come to the home at 1928 Cedar for coffee and dessert.

Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview Ave., Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home