I feel very humble to be asked to represent all of you as we attempt to express our love and admiration for one of Heavenly Fathers greatest daughters. Each of our lives have been touched in so many ways by having had the privilege of knowing and being loved by Helen Vernon! Each of us could stand at this podium and tell stories about how we have laughed with, cried with and been uplifted by Helen. There isn’t one person here or any one who ever knew her who would say a bad thing about Helen. She had only friends - no enemies. Each person who met Helen instantly had a new friend. She would always take whatever time was required and focus only on you and even though she might have been hurting or busy, she made you feel you were the most important person in the world to her at that moment.
I look out on the audience and I can see where Helen’s influence has been felt - from family, to church, to the base’s Thrift Shop, to the hospital, to neighbors, to those who knew her on her walk through life. We each could stand and tell stories of their own special times with Helen. In just a few brief minutes, through the examples of her interaction with some of her close friends, a group referred to as the Merry Maidens, I would like to paint a mural of Helen’s influence on all of us! But first a quick story to tell you about this group. About thirty years ago the Oaks and Flower families were being moved from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island down to Washington DC. Both families bought homes in Springfield, Virginia and there served with and learned to love a group of women who would have their lives interwoven for generations to come. As that group began moving to other parts of the country they were reluctant to lose the sisterhood that had developed during their stay together in northern Virginia. Jan Flower recalls that one day her phone rang in San Diego and Gloria Oaks was on the phone asking Roger if she could come to a slumber party in San Antonio, Texas. And so the group gathered at Randolph Air Force Base where the Oaks and Vernon’s were stationed. Jan’s husband Roger dubbed the group the Merry Maidens of Menopause and it has stuck.
Helen loved dishes and goblets and had a large collection of both. Merry Maiden, Rebecca Hansen tells us that she will never forget that during a trip to Germany, Helen was so excited to take them to a store that had a large selection of beautiful china. Rebecca bought a set that Helen had shown her, and remembers Helen with fondness each time she uses that set of beautiful china.
Helen helped make drapery with a friend of hers in Virginia- Joyce Lee another of the Merry Maidens. Joyce says: I have wonderful memories of Helen. I first met her when I was doing drapery work for Sears in VA. We began to work together and she would come to my house and we would work in my basement “shop”. We spent hours working and talking. We talked about our families, the church, funny things, serious things and of course, the work we were doing. There were always lots of scrapes from the material and we folded it and tucked it away with the idea we were going to make napkins. We never got around to that! I dismissed this failure and thought that she was planning to make them to go with all her dishes and glassware. However, some time later Helen made me a set of napkins and sent them to me. Joyce closes with: How special those napkins are to me. They are a reminder of our many hours together.
Helen loved to cook and loved to share the things she made. Last Christmas Helen and Rachel made 42 dozen cookies for the Airman’s Cookie drive on base! It was her first real opportunity to try out her new kitchen!
Helen loved cats. Jan Flower remembers that Helen adored cats and had three of them when the Maidens visited in San Antonio where one had just given birth to a large litter of kittens. Jan recalls: We traveled and shopped with a basket of wee kitties and laughed as we snuck them into restaurants and fed them with eye droppers while their mother was at the vet. They fit in the palm of our hands!
Helen was a spiritual teacher. Gloria Oaks recalls that Helen was a spiritual giant. She loved the Lord, as evidenced by everything she did. She led others in spirituality in many ways. When Gloria lived in San Antonio she and Helen were envious of the Washington ladies who would read scriptures together each morning, so they started doing the same. It was just Helen and Gloria; but they seldom missed a day, due primarily to Helen's encouragement. She loved the scriptures. Helen taught two of the Oak’s children in Seminary in Germany. They loved every lesson they were awake for. Helen had a lasting impact on each of their lives from those early morning sessions of gospel study. She Taught seminary for years and touched many of these children’s lives.
Helen was an organizer. She loved working in the Thrift Shop. She has volunteered in thrift shops around the world. Here at Wright-Patt, she was in charge of creating new displays each week. She and Jim would go in and Jim would bring a book and read while Helen perused the shop in search of the right items to make the perfect themed display. Many times the items on the display were the 1st items sold when the Thrift Shop opened each week.
The Vernon family delivered the Washington Post during their time in Springfield VA. Kathy Madsen remembers Helen and Jim in Springfield, leaving ward gatherings early so they could get to bed in order to get up and deliver papers. Kathy vowed that they would never do that, but they too soon joined in the "fun" of paper routes. If Helen and Jim could do it, so could they.
Sue Jones recalls that stories of Helen and the paper business still are legendary in her family. Sue recalls, “We all said we would one day like to be as good at delivering papers as Helen was: tied with a bow and placed next to a cup of hot chocolate on every doorstep.” She set the standard of excellence in so many ways.
Kathy Madsen has other memories of her time with Helen, she says, “I really got close to Helen in Germany. She always reached out to other people. Everyone was Helen's friend and each loved her for a different reason. I loved our walking in the mornings at Ramstein Air Base. Helen always carried a small plastic grocery bag and picked up trash as we walked. She made our walkway look so much better - day after day. We walked around a field that teenagers frequented daily so picking up trash was a never-ending job. But she was not simply diligent but happily picked up trash every day. Whenever I walk anywhere, and see trash, I wish I had a bag with me so that I could be as good as Helen”.
Ann Rees reminded us of the Mary Maiden’s last visit together. This past October, the group gathered to raise Helen's spirits. But in a way that only Helen could do, she turned the tables on the small group of friends. She insisted on riding to the airport to meet each of the group despite having had a chemotherapy treatment that very day. It was pretty clear which one of the Merry Maidens was going to be cheering up the other eight. She was amazing. It wasn't just that she joined most of the activities; it was that she had clearly had a hand in planning them, and wanted to be a contributing hostess. On the last full day together she walked into Jan's home laden with specialties from her own kitchen and at the end of a memorable evening, the maidens did what they had always done, knelt in prayer as sisters--this time praying for Helen and WITH her for the last time as a group. Proverbs tells us that: "a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance" and also that "a merry heart doeth good like a medicine." Her life was a living example of HOW to endure to the end with magnificent courage, humor and grace.
As a finishing touch on this mural of Helen’s life of example I want to share Carolyn Ingersol’s thoughts about her. I think this captures the essence of her character. “In The Sound of Music the nuns sing about Maria and her effect upon others and her personality. They have trouble trying to explain her, which is how I feel about Helen. How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? How do you keep a wave upon the sand? How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand? Like Maria, Helen was unique, a breath of fresh air, honest, inquisitive about all things, compassionate, always looking for new things to become involved in, never afraid of any challenge or assignment. She was always gentle and excited, childlike in her love of life, yet mature in her approach to adversity. Who can forget her voice? It was happy and had a special lyrical sound to it, a lilt and tone that told you that she was thinking good things. I will miss you, dear Helen, but what a wonderful thing it is to know that every time I think of you a big smile will appear on my face, even though tears will be in my eyes.
Helen, I loved sitting with you and kissing your forehead and telling you that I loved you and that all who knew you loved you. You were and inspiration to all you met and you never met a stranger. Thank you for sharing your love of life and your eternal optimistic attitude for life. You taught us how to bring out the best in each person we meet by making them feel they are the most important person right then. Thank you for being our friend, mother and grandmother to your family, the loving wife and eternal companion to Jim and especially a valiant daughter of our Heavenly Father who has welcomed you back into His arms.
Whether riding down into the Grand Canyon on donkeys or hiking in the mountains of Europe or exploring Hawaii together, the Vernon clan grabbed life with both hands. In that spirit Jim blessed Helen in her last hour with the tender reminder that “we have done all we dreamed to do together”. What a marvelous thing it is to know that at some point in the future this wonderful family will be together to do exactly those kinds of things again.
Thank you Helen for sharing your brave and merry heart with us and for teaching us how to live with style, grace and humor regardless of the situations we are in or regardless of what circumstances life hands us. We love you Helen Vernon.
I look out on the audience and I can see where Helen’s influence has been felt - from family, to church, to the base’s Thrift Shop, to the hospital, to neighbors, to those who knew her on her walk through life. We each could stand and tell stories of their own special times with Helen. In just a few brief minutes, through the examples of her interaction with some of her close friends, a group referred to as the Merry Maidens, I would like to paint a mural of Helen’s influence on all of us! But first a quick story to tell you about this group. About thirty years ago the Oaks and Flower families were being moved from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island down to Washington DC. Both families bought homes in Springfield, Virginia and there served with and learned to love a group of women who would have their lives interwoven for generations to come. As that group began moving to other parts of the country they were reluctant to lose the sisterhood that had developed during their stay together in northern Virginia. Jan Flower recalls that one day her phone rang in San Diego and Gloria Oaks was on the phone asking Roger if she could come to a slumber party in San Antonio, Texas. And so the group gathered at Randolph Air Force Base where the Oaks and Vernon’s were stationed. Jan’s husband Roger dubbed the group the Merry Maidens of Menopause and it has stuck.
Helen loved dishes and goblets and had a large collection of both. Merry Maiden, Rebecca Hansen tells us that she will never forget that during a trip to Germany, Helen was so excited to take them to a store that had a large selection of beautiful china. Rebecca bought a set that Helen had shown her, and remembers Helen with fondness each time she uses that set of beautiful china.
Helen helped make drapery with a friend of hers in Virginia- Joyce Lee another of the Merry Maidens. Joyce says: I have wonderful memories of Helen. I first met her when I was doing drapery work for Sears in VA. We began to work together and she would come to my house and we would work in my basement “shop”. We spent hours working and talking. We talked about our families, the church, funny things, serious things and of course, the work we were doing. There were always lots of scrapes from the material and we folded it and tucked it away with the idea we were going to make napkins. We never got around to that! I dismissed this failure and thought that she was planning to make them to go with all her dishes and glassware. However, some time later Helen made me a set of napkins and sent them to me. Joyce closes with: How special those napkins are to me. They are a reminder of our many hours together.
Helen loved to cook and loved to share the things she made. Last Christmas Helen and Rachel made 42 dozen cookies for the Airman’s Cookie drive on base! It was her first real opportunity to try out her new kitchen!
Helen loved cats. Jan Flower remembers that Helen adored cats and had three of them when the Maidens visited in San Antonio where one had just given birth to a large litter of kittens. Jan recalls: We traveled and shopped with a basket of wee kitties and laughed as we snuck them into restaurants and fed them with eye droppers while their mother was at the vet. They fit in the palm of our hands!
Helen was a spiritual teacher. Gloria Oaks recalls that Helen was a spiritual giant. She loved the Lord, as evidenced by everything she did. She led others in spirituality in many ways. When Gloria lived in San Antonio she and Helen were envious of the Washington ladies who would read scriptures together each morning, so they started doing the same. It was just Helen and Gloria; but they seldom missed a day, due primarily to Helen's encouragement. She loved the scriptures. Helen taught two of the Oak’s children in Seminary in Germany. They loved every lesson they were awake for. Helen had a lasting impact on each of their lives from those early morning sessions of gospel study. She Taught seminary for years and touched many of these children’s lives.
Helen was an organizer. She loved working in the Thrift Shop. She has volunteered in thrift shops around the world. Here at Wright-Patt, she was in charge of creating new displays each week. She and Jim would go in and Jim would bring a book and read while Helen perused the shop in search of the right items to make the perfect themed display. Many times the items on the display were the 1st items sold when the Thrift Shop opened each week.
The Vernon family delivered the Washington Post during their time in Springfield VA. Kathy Madsen remembers Helen and Jim in Springfield, leaving ward gatherings early so they could get to bed in order to get up and deliver papers. Kathy vowed that they would never do that, but they too soon joined in the "fun" of paper routes. If Helen and Jim could do it, so could they.
Sue Jones recalls that stories of Helen and the paper business still are legendary in her family. Sue recalls, “We all said we would one day like to be as good at delivering papers as Helen was: tied with a bow and placed next to a cup of hot chocolate on every doorstep.” She set the standard of excellence in so many ways.
Kathy Madsen has other memories of her time with Helen, she says, “I really got close to Helen in Germany. She always reached out to other people. Everyone was Helen's friend and each loved her for a different reason. I loved our walking in the mornings at Ramstein Air Base. Helen always carried a small plastic grocery bag and picked up trash as we walked. She made our walkway look so much better - day after day. We walked around a field that teenagers frequented daily so picking up trash was a never-ending job. But she was not simply diligent but happily picked up trash every day. Whenever I walk anywhere, and see trash, I wish I had a bag with me so that I could be as good as Helen”.
Ann Rees reminded us of the Mary Maiden’s last visit together. This past October, the group gathered to raise Helen's spirits. But in a way that only Helen could do, she turned the tables on the small group of friends. She insisted on riding to the airport to meet each of the group despite having had a chemotherapy treatment that very day. It was pretty clear which one of the Merry Maidens was going to be cheering up the other eight. She was amazing. It wasn't just that she joined most of the activities; it was that she had clearly had a hand in planning them, and wanted to be a contributing hostess. On the last full day together she walked into Jan's home laden with specialties from her own kitchen and at the end of a memorable evening, the maidens did what they had always done, knelt in prayer as sisters--this time praying for Helen and WITH her for the last time as a group. Proverbs tells us that: "a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance" and also that "a merry heart doeth good like a medicine." Her life was a living example of HOW to endure to the end with magnificent courage, humor and grace.
As a finishing touch on this mural of Helen’s life of example I want to share Carolyn Ingersol’s thoughts about her. I think this captures the essence of her character. “In The Sound of Music the nuns sing about Maria and her effect upon others and her personality. They have trouble trying to explain her, which is how I feel about Helen. How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? How do you keep a wave upon the sand? How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand? Like Maria, Helen was unique, a breath of fresh air, honest, inquisitive about all things, compassionate, always looking for new things to become involved in, never afraid of any challenge or assignment. She was always gentle and excited, childlike in her love of life, yet mature in her approach to adversity. Who can forget her voice? It was happy and had a special lyrical sound to it, a lilt and tone that told you that she was thinking good things. I will miss you, dear Helen, but what a wonderful thing it is to know that every time I think of you a big smile will appear on my face, even though tears will be in my eyes.
Helen, I loved sitting with you and kissing your forehead and telling you that I loved you and that all who knew you loved you. You were and inspiration to all you met and you never met a stranger. Thank you for sharing your love of life and your eternal optimistic attitude for life. You taught us how to bring out the best in each person we meet by making them feel they are the most important person right then. Thank you for being our friend, mother and grandmother to your family, the loving wife and eternal companion to Jim and especially a valiant daughter of our Heavenly Father who has welcomed you back into His arms.
Whether riding down into the Grand Canyon on donkeys or hiking in the mountains of Europe or exploring Hawaii together, the Vernon clan grabbed life with both hands. In that spirit Jim blessed Helen in her last hour with the tender reminder that “we have done all we dreamed to do together”. What a marvelous thing it is to know that at some point in the future this wonderful family will be together to do exactly those kinds of things again.
Thank you Helen for sharing your brave and merry heart with us and for teaching us how to live with style, grace and humor regardless of the situations we are in or regardless of what circumstances life hands us. We love you Helen Vernon.
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