Helen Lenora McNamara

Funeral Mass for Helen Lenora McNamara will be 10:00a.m., Friday May 22, 2015 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Claremore. Father Paul Eichhoff will officiate. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Tulsa under the direction of MMS-Payne Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Claremore. Visitation will be from 1pm--7pm Thursday, May 21 at the funeral home. A Prayer service will follow visitation at 7pm Thursday also at the funeral home. Helen passed away on Monday May 18, 2015 at Wood Manor Nursing Home at the age of 95.
Helen Lenora McNamara was born July 12, 1919 in Neosho, Missouri to Fred Seton Keithley and Lena Marcella (Thrasher) Keithley. Her family moved to Redfork, Oklahoma when she was a child and Helen attended schools in the Tulsa area, graduating with the class of 1938 from Central High School. She continued her education by attending the Tulsa School of Business.
While working in Tulsa, Helen met Daniel James McNamara where he was serving in the Oklahoma National Guard. The couple was married August 31, 1940 at Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Tulsa. They eventually moved to a farm in Bushyhead, Oklahoma. Along with Dan, Helen and family were lifelong members of Christ The King Catholic Church in Claremore, now named St. Cecilia Catholic Church.
Helen partnered with her husband and they built and ran a dairy farm and later raised catfish. She was very involved with the Bushyhead School system as a volunteer and also worked in the cafeteria as a dietician and cook. The Chelsea Elementary School benefited from her cooking skills for many years. After the children were older, Helen took a position at the Claremore Hospital as a cook.
Family was most important to Helen and she was a wonderful wife and mother. Even though she was busy she also found time to excel in her art and has completed many beautiful paintings, many of which proudly hang in her children's home and throughout northeastern Oklahoma. She successfully completed drawing and art classes at Rogers State College, now Rogers State University under Pat Gordon's mother and had guided instruction under Pat Gordon.
Helen was involved in her community, volunteering with the Claremore Hospital Auxiliary, working hundreds of days in their gift shop. She was a member of the St. Cecilia Altar Society and served as an officer for many years. She was also a member of the Green Country Quilters and has made more than 50 quilts throughout her life.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Lena; son, Daniel James McNamara, Jr. and foster son Jeremiah Whisenhunt.
Those family members that survive include her sons Patrick Kelley McNamara and special friend Penny Henninger and Michael John McNamara all of Claremore, daughters Margaret Mary "Marty" McNamara and Dr. Danette Boyle and husband Ron Boyle all of Tulsa; grandchildren Christopher Michael McNamara, Kevin Patrick McNamara, Kathleen Michele McNamara and Matthew John Boyle; nieces and nephews Dr. Elliott Howe, Sally Howe Smith, Nancy Howe Lassister, Debbie Dixon Chamberlin and Timothy Dixon.
Those who wish to honor Helen's memory with a memorial contribution may do so by contributing to either St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 1304 N Dorothy Ave, Claremore, OK 74017 or the Claremore Hospital Auxiliary at Hillcrest Hospital, 1202 N. Muskogee Ave., Claremore, Oklahoma 74017.