Western Slope Obituaries 1-17-11
Opal G. Helmick, 95, of Delta, Colo., passed away January 5, 2010 at Crossroads Assisted living.
She was born on March 9, 1915 to William and Pearl Winfrey in Cushing, Okla.
The family moved to Colorado when Opal was a young child. They lived in Limon, Colo., until their move to Eckert, Colo., where she spent her childhood. Opal loved horseback riding when she was young and frequently rode up tongue creek to the Grand Mesa on her horse Dusty. Opal was a bit of a tomboy and enjoyed working on the ranch with her father and four brothers.
Opal married John Helmick and had four children. She was a devoted housewife and homemaker. She divorced in 1951, becoming a single mother, raising three teenagers and a two year old. Opal cleaned houses, took in laundry and washed dishes at a local cafe to make ends meet.
A long time friend and family physician, Dr. Frey, recognized Opal’s caring qualities and surprised her one day, bringing the director of Nursing from Mesa College, to encourage her to attend nursing school. Dr. Frey thought Opal would be a great nurse. Opal took her young son Richard and daughter Joan and moved to Grand Junction, Colo., to start her schooling. After Opal’s graduation, she moved back to Delta, Colo., and worked as a nurse at the old Delta Hospital on Grand Street. When her youngest child was in high school, Opal worked two jobs, at Delta hospital during the day and at Rest Haven Nursing home at night.
Most important in her life were her children and family. Opal was a devoted and loving mother.
Richard, Jim and Josh would like to thank Hospice of Palliative care and her Crossroads family for sharing in her life during her final years.
She is survived by her brother Bill Winfrey; two sons Jim Helmick and his wife Claudia of Lander, Wyo., and Richard Helmick of Eckert, Colo.; a daughter, Joan Doty of Salt Lake City, Utah; 10 grandchildren Josh, Kim, Wendy, Jeff, Michelle, Stacy, Kelly, Ricky, Danny and Paula; 20 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and one great-great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister and three brothers, and her daughter Elaine Helmick.
Memorial services were held January 11, 2011 at the Delta City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Opal’s memory to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P. O. Box 24, Delta, Colo., 81416.
View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at http://www.TaylorFuneralservice.com.
Opal G. Helmick, 95, of Delta, Colo., passed away January 5, 2010 at Crossroads Assisted living.
She was born on March 9, 1915 to William and Pearl Winfrey in Cushing, Okla.
The family moved to Colorado when Opal was a young child. They lived in Limon, Colo., until their move to Eckert, Colo., where she spent her childhood. Opal loved horseback riding when she was young and frequently rode up tongue creek to the Grand Mesa on her horse Dusty. Opal was a bit of a tomboy and enjoyed working on the ranch with her father and four brothers.
Opal married John Helmick and had four children. She was a devoted housewife and homemaker. She divorced in 1951, becoming a single mother, raising three teenagers and a two year old. Opal cleaned houses, took in laundry and washed dishes at a local cafe to make ends meet.
A long time friend and family physician, Dr. Frey, recognized Opal’s caring qualities and surprised her one day, bringing the director of Nursing from Mesa College, to encourage her to attend nursing school. Dr. Frey thought Opal would be a great nurse. Opal took her young son Richard and daughter Joan and moved to Grand Junction, Colo., to start her schooling. After Opal’s graduation, she moved back to Delta, Colo., and worked as a nurse at the old Delta Hospital on Grand Street. When her youngest child was in high school, Opal worked two jobs, at Delta hospital during the day and at Rest Haven Nursing home at night.
Most important in her life were her children and family. Opal was a devoted and loving mother.
Richard, Jim and Josh would like to thank Hospice of Palliative care and her Crossroads family for sharing in her life during her final years.
She is survived by her brother Bill Winfrey; two sons Jim Helmick and his wife Claudia of Lander, Wyo., and Richard Helmick of Eckert, Colo.; a daughter, Joan Doty of Salt Lake City, Utah; 10 grandchildren Josh, Kim, Wendy, Jeff, Michelle, Stacy, Kelly, Ricky, Danny and Paula; 20 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and one great-great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister and three brothers, and her daughter Elaine Helmick.
Memorial services were held January 11, 2011 at the Delta City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Opal’s memory to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P. O. Box 24, Delta, Colo., 81416.
View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at http://www.TaylorFuneralservice.com.
Opal G. Helmick, 95, of Delta, Colo., passed away January 5, 2010 at Crossroads Assisted living.
She was born on March 9, 1915 to William and Pearl Winfrey in Cushing, Okla.
The family moved to Colorado when Opal was a young child. They lived in Limon, Colo., until their move to Eckert, Colo., where she spent her childhood. Opal loved horseback riding when she was young and frequently rode up tongue creek to the Grand Mesa on her horse Dusty. Opal was a bit of a tomboy and enjoyed working on the ranch with her father and four brothers.
Opal married John Helmick and had four children. She was a devoted housewife and homemaker. She divorced in 1951, becoming a single mother, raising three teenagers and a two year old. Opal cleaned houses, took in laundry and washed dishes at a local cafe to make ends meet.
A long time friend and family physician, Dr. Frey, recognized Opal’s caring qualities and surprised her one day, bringing the director of Nursing from Mesa College, to encourage her to attend nursing school. Dr. Frey thought Opal would be a great nurse. Opal took her young son Richard and daughter Joan and moved to Grand Junction, Colo., to start her schooling. After Opal’s graduation, she moved back to Delta, Colo., and worked as a nurse at the old Delta Hospital on Grand Street. When her youngest child was in high school, Opal worked two jobs, at Delta hospital during the day and at Rest Haven Nursing home at night.
Most important in her life were her children and family. Opal was a devoted and loving mother.
Richard, Jim and Josh would like to thank Hospice of Palliative care and her Crossroads family for sharing in her life during her final years.
She is survived by her brother Bill Winfrey; two sons Jim Helmick and his wife Claudia of Lander, Wyo., and Richard Helmick of Eckert, Colo.; a daughter, Joan Doty of Salt Lake City, Utah; 10 grandchildren Josh, Kim, Wendy, Jeff, Michelle, Stacy, Kelly, Ricky, Danny and Paula; 20 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and one great-great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister and three brothers, and her daughter Elaine Helmick.
Memorial services were held January 11, 2011 at the Delta City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Opal’s memory to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P. O. Box 24, Delta, Colo., 81416.
View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at http://www.TaylorFuneralservice.com.
