Helen S Stephens *
The greatest mother ever to grace the Earth passed away on March 24, 2023, at 1:50 pm. Helen Stephens was born in Jalapa to Myron and Helen (Flook) Shockey on April 4, 1929, the fourth child of five.
Helen graduated from Van Buren High School in 1947 and was Class Salutatorian. She lived in many areas throughout Marion and Grant County during her life and also went to many schools in the Marion-Grant County area.
Helen worked in many different places including working at Meijer drive-thru with her brother, as well as at Foster-Forbes with her sister and brother. She was a soda jerk at Hook’s and worked at RCA piercing speaker cones. Helen was the first female canteen manager at the VA Medical Center in Marion. She went to cosmetology school, graduating in a professional salon, owned/operated and was the manager of her own beauty shop, Styles by Stephens, in her home. She and her husband later became foster parents to five children, adopting one of them with special needs.
Helen had many talents and loved crafts of all kinds. She sewed, crocheted, and hand and machine knitted hand and machine embroidery. She loved cooking, canning, and freezing all kinds of foods. She also loved gardening, working with flowers, mowing her yard into her upper 80s, and trimming bushes and driving until she was 90.
Survivors include two of her own children, Thereasa “Terry J.” (Daniel) Skarus of Mountain Home, AR, and Shelley J. Stephens of Marion; step-son, Danny (Janet) Stephens of Lake City, FL; granddaughter, Heather Batman of Mesa, AZ; step-grandchildren, Scott (Michelle) Stephens of Indianapolis, Tim (Amber) Stephens of Tallahassee, FL, Melissa “Missy” (Dennis) Sample of Jonesboro, and Angie (Brian) McDaniel of Fairmount; nine step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Myron (Helen) Shockey; sisters, Lauretta Brock and Fanchon Stair; brothers, Elmer Shockey and an infant brother; her husband, James T. Stephens; sons, Steven M. Smelser and Bradley K. Smelser; and step-daughter, Yvonne Trudy Armes.
The family will receive visitors from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
Immediately following the time of visitation, a funeral service to celebrate Helen’s life will begin at 4:00 pm with Pastor Mick Simpkins officiating. Burial will take place at Gardens of Memory at 11:30 am on Monday, April 17, 2023.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
Published by Chronicle-Tribune on Apr. 4, 2023.