Travis Funeral Chapel

Helen E. Sees, age 98, of Bettendorf, IA, and past resident of LaPlata, MO., passed away at 10:10 AM August 4th, 2014.

Born September 12, 1915, 2 and ½ miles northwest of Brashear, Missouri, she was the daughter of Elbert Keller and Allie (Ashby) Keller. On June 26, 1937 she married Harold W. Sees in Eldon, Missouri. She is survived by one son, Larry J. Sees and his wife, Susie of La Plata, Missouri; one daughter, Judith Ann Hiles and her husband, Dean of Riverdale, Iowa; four grandchildren, Lori Pinkston and her husband, Lonnie of La Plata Missouri, Lacy Craig and her husband, Cory of La Plata, Missouri, Brian Hiles and his wife, Julie of Bloomington, Illinois and Hilary Martinez and her husband, Fidel of Lakewood, Washington; and five great-grandchildren; Laryn Jo Pinkston, Madison Sue Craig, Chloe Anne Craig , William Harold Hiles and John Orion Hiles; one step-great-grandson, Julian Martinez and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one sister, Cleone Thompson, several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Helen was raised in the Brashear, MO area and graduated from the Kirksville High School in 1932 and went to Kirksville Normal School (now Truman State University) 3 years. She then taught in the local rural school system for 6 years. She and Harold moved numerous times over the next 20 years. They moved to La Plata in 1955 and settled on a small farm where they lived for 37 years. She and Harold purchased the La Plata Locker Plant and operated it for several years. She then became a nurse’s aide at KCOM, fulfilling a life long ambition to work in the health care field. They moved to Bentonville, Arkansas and worked at Bates Hospital in Bentonville, Arkansas for 5 years before returning to La Plata. They then traveled throughout the country in their motor home.

In 1994, they moved from their farm to town and retired where she enjoyed several years of spending time with her family and friends. Helen was an accomplished cook She was famous for her fried chicken and chocolate pie and baked and decorated birthday cakes for her grandchildren for several years which were appreciated for their beauty as well as flavor. She enjoyed crocheting and crocheted several clothing items for her family which included a bedspread for each of her children and grandchildren.
In 2008 she again moved into an assisted living facility in Kirksville. She relocated to Bettendorf, Iowa after requiring more extensive nursing care.

Helen was a member of the Order of Eastern Star since January 1960, where she served as Worthy Matron for several terms as well as other positions within the organization. She also was a member and an officer of the La Plata American Legion Post #282, earning her 50-year membership pin in 2006. She is a member of the La Plata Community Presbyterian Church and served as a Sunday school teacher and was a member of the New Harmony Circle and Grace Hudson Circle. She was also a member of the Seibert Club. She was a Girl Scout Leader for several years and assisted with 4-H. She also helped with the Boy Scouts for several years. She belonged to the Good Sam Club and served as a volunteer for RSVP and helped with the La Plata Christian Ministries.

Helen commented that she had been blessed with being able to live long enough to see all of her grandchildren graduate from high school and college and get married. She loved her family very much and will be missed by them.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, August 8, 2014 at the La Plata Baptist Church in La Plata, Missouri. Burial will be in the Park View Memorial Gardens in Kirksville, Missouri.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 7, 2014 at the La Plata Baptist Church with the family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Memorials in memory of Helen E. Sees can be made to the Community Presbyterian Church or to the La Plata Legion Auxiliary. They may be sent to or left at Travis Funeral Chapel, 125 S. Church St., La Plata, Missouri 63549.