Your first funeral.

Kevin you were so young when you went to your first funeral. I'm glad you were so young that you won't remember such a sad time. The funeral was for Aunt Helen. She was your Dad's great aunt, but she was more than that too. Lora Walker and I have been friends for many years and we have gotten close to each other's families as time has gone on. Sometimes we would take a drive down to Smithville and join her grandmother Naydean (Grandma Nanie) for a game of Bingo at the VFW, in these trips we would also meet her friends, one of which was her best friend Aunt Helen. Sadly Grandma Nanie passed away while your Dad and I were dating. It was a year after her passing that when talking to Grandma Mitschke we realized that the Aunt Helen I had met at Bingo was actually her Aunt Helen.

Helen Harrell

On Sunday morning July 13, 2008 Helen Pauline Harrell passed into the arms of her Lord with niece June Parker and grand daughter Kerri Harrell by her side.

Helen was born on March 3, 1927 to John Paul and Helena Zuhn at home in Fayette County. Named for her mother and father, she was baptized on March 13, 1927 at Trinity Hill Lutheran Church in LaGrange, Texas. After instruction in the Lutheran faith, she professed her faith at her confirmation on March 17, 1940.

Helen was the last of seven children. She lived on a farm taking on chores of cotton-picking and baking on a wood stove. At age eighteen her sister Ann brought her to Smithville where she met two young best friends, Hack and Kat.

She married Hack on November 27, 1946 in LaGrange. Throughout their marriage they both had a variety of jobs. She was a "jack of all trades' at the Smithville Clinic on Main St. and then the new hospital on 9th St. Dr. James Thomas taught her every job even though she had no formal nursing education. She performed home deliveries even before the doctor could arrive. After Hack' death in 1975 Helen stayed busy tending to her home and garden.

In 1981 she married Kat Harrell and they spent eleven years enjoying life to the fullest until his death in 1992. She gained a son and three grandchildren who were the love of her life. Coining the name Hel Kat Road, a combination of their names, showed their fun loving side.

Pat Evers came into her life at bingo. As their friendship grew, his children and grandchildren quickly became hers. until the end they remained closed and devoted friends enjoying a "December" love.

Helen loved gardening, crossword puzzles, scrabble, bingo, casinos, painting pictures which graced the walls of her home, and her weekly domino game with "the girls". She was an active member of the VFW, taking on the responsibility of treasurer for many years.

Preceded in death are first husband, Henry "Hack" Wilson, second husband Johnny "Kat" Harrell, parents John P. and Helena Zuhn, brothers William Zuhn, John Zuhn, sisters Edna Schoppa, Mary Adamcik, Ann Garner, nephews Larry Schoppa and Jim Zuhn.

Survivors include brother E. C. Zuhn and wife Fritsie of LaGrange, stepson Johnny "Skip" Harrell and wife Carol of Arlington, granddaughters Kelly Harrell of Arlington, Kathy Burks of Dallas, Kerri Harrell of Arlington, Texas, great grandsons Jonathan Hardy and Zachary Boice, devoted friend S. P. "Pat" Evers, nephews and nieces Donald Zuhn, June Parker, Barbara Mitschke, Bobby Zuhn, Diana Mikulin, Michael Zuhn, Peggy Kenner, Beverly Kay Robinson, Timothy Zuhn, Stephen Zuhn and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews that were blessed by her love.

Helen was loved and will be missed by family and numerous friends.