Helen Marie Dawes

Funeral service for Helen Marie (Jackson) Dawes will be 1 p.m., Sat., March 8, at First Christian Church, with Pastor Richard Billings officiating. Burial will follow at Chelsea Cemetery under the direction of the Chelsea Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Fri. 1-8 p.m., and family will greet friends 6-8 p.m.

Helen passed away Wed., March 5, 2014, at Wood Manor Nursing Home at the age of 87.

The daughter of Claude and Hettie (Hays) Jackson was born April 27, 1926, in Chelsea. Helen graduated from Chelsea High School with the class of 1943. She kept in contact with many of her friends from school through the years and loved visiting with them. In 1946, Helen married Gene Dawes in Columbus, KS. She raised her children in Chelsea, where she also helped raise her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She took great pride in being a wonderful homemaker, and also worked at the local Jiffy Mart. Helen was a member of the First Christian Church in Chelsea. She loved basketball and played during her school years. She never missed an OU or OSU basketball game on TV; and had recently started following the Oklahoma Thunder team and could talk to you about any of the players. Helen was also active in the Chelsea Senior Center, and was always with her sister, Florine (Jackson) Draeger. She loved to cook especially for her friends and family. She also enjoyed traveling, shopping, worship, reading, and eating new things.

She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers: Charles and Lyle Jackson; sisters: Lorene (Jackson) Clements and Florine (Jackson) Draeger; and nephew, John Clements.

Helen is survived by her children: Kimberlie Dawes Dudash and husband, Steve Dudash, Jr of Bixby, and Tom & Suzie (Martin) Dawes of Chelsea; grandchildren: Terra Dawes of Tulsa, Ryan and Rhonda Dawes of Las Vegas, NV, and Stephen Dudash, III of Bixby; great-grandchildren: Mace and Aambrea Dawes of Vinita; nieces: Patty Jackson Green and husband, Roger of Claremore, and Keitha Clements of Scotia, CA; nephew, Mike Jackson of Vinita; cousin, Marvin Poole of Grove; and many great nieces and nephews.