Commitment to her family, community and church defined Helen's life. She was a charter member of the Camp Branch Extension Club. Throughout her life she was active as a 4-H Leader and as a member of Pettis County Council and Flat Creek Extension Club, United Methodist Women, Candlelighters, Eastern Star, Parent Teacher Association, Women's Democratic Club, Farm Bureau, Sedalia Knife & Fork, and the American Association of Retired Persons.
She managed a dairy, beef, grain and hog operation along with her husband. Helen milked 80 cows each day, rising well before the sun each day and retiring long after it had set. She and Russell received both the State and County Extension Farm Management Awards in 1965-66. The Pettis County Extension Club honored Helen as Homemaker of the Year in 1987. Her love of the land produced flowers, and fruits and vegetables of which she canned over 700 jars annually.
The United Methodist Church was Helen's spiritual home. She was a member of the New Bethel congregation.
Helen was known for the incomparable pies she baked in huge quantities for dinners and fundraisers. Her sustaining and loving presence will be greatly missed by many organizations, but most keenly by her family, to whom she was always available. No family gathering was complete without her homemade noodles, light rolls and coconut cream pie.
Survivors include her three children, Carolyn Williams (Jeffrey), Sedalia, Jerry McFatrich (Melody), Slidell, LA, and Mitzi McFatrich, Lawrence, KS, and ten grandchildren, Shandi and Troy Lewis (Apryle), Kami Lewis Poole (Tim), Justin Williams (Kelley), Sarah Williams Cramer (Barry), Melissa McFatrich King (Michael Jr.), Jerry McFatrich Jr. (Sherri), James, Kayla and Jeffrey Davis, nine great grandchildren, Cody Poole, Jeremy Lewis, Brian Sokolowski, Samantha Williams, Cade McFatrich, Emily and Brilyn King, Logan McFatrich, and John Cramer, one sister, Betty Hickam, Sedalia, and four brothers, George and Carl Franklin, Sedalia, Bill Franklin, Seattle, WA, and Gary Franklin, Sherwood, AR.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Russell in 1999, and by siblings Bobby Franklin and Dorothy Lappat.
The family will receive visitors at Heckart Funeral Home on Thursday, January 29, 2009, between 6 and 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be on Friday, January 30, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. at Heckart Funeral Home, with the Rev. Mary Biesemeyer officiating.
Casket bearers will be Troy Lewis, Tim Poole, Justin Williams, Jerry McFatrich Jr., Barry Cramer, Michael King, Jr.
Burial will be at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Contributions to New Bethel United Methodist Church and The Children's Therapy Center are welcomed.
