Helen Francis was born April 2, 1919 in Cherokee to Thomas C. and Reba (Millspaugh) Oare and passed from this life on January 11, 2015 at Brookside Retirement Community in Overbrook, Kansas.

Helen graduated from Cherokee High School with the class of 1936, attended Oklahoma State University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She served as a stenographer in the U. S. War Department during World War II in Washington, D.C. where she met her future husband E. J. Francis, or “Fran” as she called him. They were married in Cherokee, Oklahoma on August 8, 1943. Three children were born to Helen and Fran: Jan and Jill, twin daughters, and Sara Lou. Helen served as a civil servant throughout her career in various capacities and departments. She retired in 1984.

Following Fran’s death in 1987, Helen returned to Cherokee in 1992, where she was a member of the First United Methodist Church, P.E.O, Cherokee Mothers Self-Culture Club, and the National Association of Federal Retired Employees. Helen also was an active member of the Cherokee Cemetery Board and worked tirelessly on improvements to the landscape of the Cherokee Cemetery. She also served on the Northwest Regional Advisory Board of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, E. J. Francis. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas Oare and B. Jack Oare; one sister, Margie Dell Oare Barr; and nephew, Jim Oare.

Helen’s survivors are children, Jan (Phil) Lunn of Topeka, Kansas, Jill (Charles) Dohnalek of Parker, Colorado and Sara (Joe) Wheeley of Pampa, Texas; grandchildren, Robin Dohnalek (Dave) Louks, J. J. Wheeley Slatten, Shelby Lunn (Bo) Bowen, James (Barb) Dohnalek, Heather Wheeley (Richie) Thompson and Joanna Wheeley; great grandchildren, Joseph Slatten, Jace Bowen, Julia Louks, Jennifer Louks, Rowen Dohnalek, and Kiera Dohnalek; nephews, John Barr, Burt Barr, Tom Oare and John Oare.

Funeral service will be Friday, January 16, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at the Cherokee United Methodist Church with Rev. Robert Duran officiating. Private family burial will take place at Cherokee Municipal Cemetery.