Helen E. Simmons

Helen Elizabeth Simmons, the youngest daughter and the last of 7 children born to David S. and Lucy Esther Kohler Wright was born on September 12, 1924 on a farm near Glen Elder, Kansas. Her peaceful release from a life of 89 years, 7 months and 18 days came early Wednesday morning, April 30, 2014 at Good Samaritan Society in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.

Helen attended rural school in Jewell County and then graduated from Glen Elder High School in the Class of 1941. She taught school in a one room school and then on March 7, 1943 married Donald Arthur Skinner. One son, James Arthur was born to this union. Helen and Donald began their married life living on a farm in Jewell County before moving to a small acreage just west of Mulberry Junction two miles west of Beloit. During this time, she worked as a secretary for the newly constructed Beloit Elementary School. Donald died in 1964.

After Donald's death, she moved to Manhattan, Kansas where she was Head Cashier in the Comptroller's Office at Kansas State University while James was a student there. After his graduation, she moved back to Beloit and was a Legal Secretary for the Thomas Conroy law office.

On March 4, 1967, Helen married Joseph C. Simmons at First United Methodist Church. They were privileged to celebrate many happy years together. Following their marriage, they constructed a new ranch style home on the Simmons farm in Salt Creek Township and enjoyed living there until the fall of 1974 when Joe's health changed and they moved their home into Beloit. Helen loved bookkeeping and during tag and tax time, she was an adjunct employee at the Mitchell County Treasurer's Office for several years.

Helen was no stranger to hard work. She grew up in the midst of the Great Depression and knew the value of a hard earned dollar. She knew how to make things stretch beyond their limits. She loved working in her yard and had a special knack for making things grow. Always by Joe's side, she was always ready to assist him on the farm with whatever needed to be done.

Besides work, Helen knew how to have fun. Her family was extremely important to her and she knew how to make people welcome in her immaculately kept house. She and Joe took many excitement filled bus tours together and looked forward to spending the winters in Texas for 17 years. Helen played the piano and organ by ear and enjoyed working with children, especially Special Ed students.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Donald Skinner and Joseph Simmons, brothers Orville and Warren Wright, sisters Iva Neff, Elsie Patterson, Verda Jones, Edna Riley, and one grandson Donald James Skinner.

Those who are left to mourn her passing and celebrate her life are her son James A. Skinner and wife Janice of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; sisters-in-law Lorna Wright of Beloit, Phyllis Capogna of Royal Oak, Michigan, Frances McDonald of Prairie Village, Kansas; one grandson Brett Skinner of Wellington, New Zealand and one great grandchild Wynn Skinner; a host of many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at the McDonald Funeral Home with Pastor Tim Ault-Duell officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to the First United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. Tuesday at the McDonald Funeral Home. The casket will remain closed.