Helen C. Hanks, a resident of West Plains, and formerly of Willow Springs, passed away early Wednesday morning, October 21, 2020 while at Brookhaven Health Care in West Plains, MO.
She was born April 15, 1932 in Oklahoma City, OK to Horace Edward and Olive Irene (Crosby) Hudson and was 88 years old.
On July 2, 1952 she was married to Neil Hanks in Mountain Home, AR. They were married 68 years. Helen and Neil lived in Willow Springs most of their life. They moved to West Plains in the fall of 2007. When she was younger, Helen played softball and was an excellent center fielder. She and Neil also enjoyed playing golf with their friends as well as the card game “pitch”. Camping at the lake and going to Branson, MO in their motor home was also a favorite past time. She also loved taking their grandchildren to Silver Dollar City with Neil. She will be dearly missed by her family, her friends, and all who knew her.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Horace Hudson of Willow Springs and Olive (Hudson) Doddrill; her stepfather Joe Doddrill of Shawnee, OK; three brothers: Edward Hudson of Conneaut, OH, John Hudson and David Hudson of Willow Springs; father and mother-in-law, Clyde and Ruby Hanks of Willow Springs; her sister-in-law, Mary Poppitz of Willow Springs; two brothers-in-law: Claude (Butch) Gauldin of Willow Springs and Rex Hanks of Mtn. Home, AR; and three nephews and two nieces.
Helen is survived by her husband, Neil of West Plains; two daughters: Debra S. Martin and her husband, Mitchell of Montier, MO, and Kathy A. Hickson and her husband, Danny of West Plains; two grandsons: Preston Martin and friend DeDe of Montier, MO, Dr. Chad Walesky and his wife, Liz of Boston, MA; granddaughter Michelle Martin of Mountain View; four great-granddaughters: Cheyenna, Jerrica, Angel, and Josie; two sisters-in-law: Louise Gauldin of Willow Springs and Mildred Simkins of Springfield. She is further survived by several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Helen’s memory to the Willow Springs Scholarship Club and may be left at the funeral home.
A graveside funeral service for Helen Hanks will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. at the Willow Springs City Cemetery with Pastor Joel Hinds officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Willow Funeral Home, LLC. Online condolences may be left at www.willowspringsfuneralhome.com
