Helen Lee Etta Edwards

Helen Lee Etta Edwards, 93, passed away at an assisted living facility Friday, May 23, 2008. Graveside service: A private service will be held for the family in Brown Cemetery, Aledo. Visitation: Her family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at White's Funeral Home in Weatherford. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends consider a contribution in Helen's name to Gill Children's Services, 1020 Summit Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76102. Helen was born Aug. 30, 1914, in Springfield, Mo., to the late Mr. and Mrs. Guy Cain. She was raised in El Dorado, Kan., where she graduated from high school and worked in the city's only drugstore. Following marriage in 1940 to the love of her life, O. Dean Edwards, they traveled five years for the Joe R. Horrigan Pipeline Construction Co. throughout the Midwestern and Eastern United States, making many lifelong friends in the process. After moving to Houston for Dean to work at the Horrigan office, Helen and Dean had two daughters, Susan and Peggy. In 1949, Dean and Helen purchased a ranch north of Aledo, where Helen got her first taste of rural life. She had many funny and fond stories about the very major adjustments she had to make to country living in addition to learning many new tasks to support their farming and ranching activities. They were very active in Aledo Methodist Church and the Aledo school. Helen was a rather private person. She was a devoted mother and full-time homemaker. When not doing something to support her family, Helen enjoyed art lessons and experimenting with her own painting style. Helen enjoyed supporting the activities of others and deeply valued very simple things in life, i.e. nutritious home cooking always with fresh fruits and vegetables and life without technology. Upon Dean's death in 1981 Helen continued to live on the ranch with the support of Peggy and her husband, Wally Tucker. Helen liked nothing better than to drive while we fed cattle and to look over the beautiful hills and pastures now destined to become Morning Star Ranch. Although not keen on development, Helen was a forward thinker who could easily see that the City of Fort Worth was growing near. After all, Dean and Helen bought their first horse, "Buck," in 1950 from a location now known as Ridglea Avenue and I-30. Through astute business decisions and willingness to plan for the future, Helen ensured that the work and values she and Dean established throughout their 41 years of marriage will continue in future generations. Helen remained independent in spirit after experiencing gradual health problems that required she move into assisted living at Veranda Place in 2003. The family extends special appreciation for the remarkable care and many kindnesses Helen received from Dr. Sumat Kumar and the Veranda Place staff, particularly for allowing her independence to the greatest extent possible. Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Susan; and sisters, Eleanor Songer and "Chubby" Breen. Survivors: Daughter, Peggy and husband, Wally Tucker, of Santo; grandchildren, Kim Putman and husband, Jerry, of Brock and Tim Tucker and wife, Kim, of Houston; great-grandsons, Johsua and Micah Putman; and nieces and nephews.