Obituary of Helen Lorraine Sheets

Helen left our family very unexpectedly and to fast. She died of Pancreatic Cancer at 3:00 p.m. in Tacoma, Washington. Her husband, Allen, daughters, Diana, and Donna were all by her side when she went home to be with the Lord. She was cremated & her remains are in Shelton with her husband. There was a small memorial service at Timberline Baptist Church in Lacey, Washington on May 5, 2007. Helen Lorraine Johnson was born in Seattle, WA on October 5, 1924. She graduated from Ballard High School in 1941. In the spring of 1942, she married George Meininger. They moved to Portland, Oregon and on Oct 18, 1946, Helen gave birth to a daughter, Diana. Exactly one year later on Oct 18, 1947, she gave birth to another daughter, Donna. They moved back to Seattle & Helen went to work for her brother, Harold. She was the manager of his drapery shop for several years. Her family lived in Lake City in a house her brother owned and her girls spent the summers out in Bothell with their Aunt and Uncle. In 1958, she decided to start her own drapery business with her older sister, Elaine. Her marriage to George ended. In 1963, she married Herb Henning of Seattle, WA, he had a daughter, Lonnie, and son, Larry, and so our family grew by two. Herb was a member of the American Legion, Helen joined their auxiliary and she became quite involved. Her children and family always came first in everything she did. In 1973, Herb retired and they moved to Shelton & built a home on their vacation property. They both got involved in the Legion in Shelton and did quite a bit of volunteer work. Helen was always busy crocheting or sewing something for a family member or someone so she joined a group called the “Knit Wits”. In 1985, they started having Luau’s on their creek front property for family and friends. There was usually a crowd of at least 50 or more. The family came the night before so they could get the pig on the barbecue at 6 a.m. so it would be done for dinner at 4 p.m... It was always a very special time for Helen, being with family and friends at least once a year. Then sadly, the last luau was in September of 1993. Herb passed away of bladder cancer on November 15, 1993, just 2 days after their 30th wedding anniversary. Helen married Allen Sheets of Shelton, WA, in 1996. Allen was a retired Tug Boat captain, so he got her involved in boating. They went up to the San Juan’s quite a lot and just around South Puget Sound. I could see the happiness in my mom’s eyes and face when she was with Allen. Unfortunately, their boat sunk while they were away from home. Later on sadly, Allen lost one of his legs. That didn’t stop either one of them though; they bought an R.V. and went traveling all over. Mom told me these the few years her and Allen have been married, have been the best an happiest years of her married life. Helen loved her family very much, she left behind beloved husband Allen of 10 years, daughters, Diana & Donna, 3 grandchildren, Lisa, Rick, Jeremy, 10 great grandchildren, Elijah, Hannah, Jonah, Lydia, & Sela Locken, Natalie & Brady English, Austin Benson. She was the BEST MOM anyone could have ever asked for. Our family and friends were all truly blessed to have her in our lives. She is preceded in death by her parents, Carl Alfred Johnson, Anna Catherine Johnson, brothers, Chester, Harold, Lawrence, and sisters, Elaine & Annabelle. Please feel free to make any donations in memory of Helen Sheets go to web site http://www.pancreatic.org/site/