Helen Marie Holt Tilcock, 88, peaceably passed away July 17, 2005, with her daughter at her bedside.
A graveside inurnment service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at Mount Hope Cemetery. There will be a reception at Geiser Pollman Park.
She was born on Dec. 10, 1916, at Harrison, Ark., to Kirby & Beulah Garrison Holt. When she was about 2, her parents and grandparents moved by wagon to Pampa, Texas. Her father and grandfather farmed for awhile and then Kirby went into construction.
She was later joined by two brothers, Howard and Kenneth. She went to school in the Pampa and Borger areas. One of her favorite memories is of riding and hiking in the Palo Dura Canyon area on the famous “Trail of Tears.”
She met her future husband, G.E. “Tillie” Tilcock, while in high school. They were married on July 4, 1936. Her cousin Margarite helped them elope. During their 55 years of marriage they moved quite frequently, following the oil fields. They had three children: Shirley Joyce, Donald Pat and Sherry Helen. All three children were born in different states.
Helen and Tillie bought property in Sumpter in 1957. They tried to vacation there yearly. They moved there permanently in 1965. Many wonderful hours were spent there snowmobiling, rock hunting, wood gathering, fishing and enjoying great barbeques.
Helen loved crocheting, afghans, rugs, beaded jewelry, rock hunting, yard sales, visiting with friends and especially her family.
She was an extraordinary person and could be very stubborn, but she had a gentle heart and hand. She was lovingly known as Grandma Tea.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Sherry and Allen Younger of Baker City; son-in-law, Lyle Wilson of Weiser, Idaho; grandchildren and families: Corey and Ginger Younger, Amy and Don Morris and Kristopher and Amy Younger all of Baker City, Debra Lang of Sacramento, Calif., Pam and Mark Johnson of Missoula, Mont., Nolan and Julie Wilson of Helena, Mont., Patrick Tilcock, and Joe and Alice Tilcock of Reno, Nev.; a brother, Ken Holt of Las Vegas, Nev.; 20-plus great-grandkids and seven great-great-grandkids; adopted family, Ann and Ray Griffin of Baker City; and close friends, Brenda Morris of Baker City, Jim and Judy King of North Powder, and Heidi Dodson of Portland; and nieces, nephews, friends and her very special dear friend, Luella Larson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son, a daughter and a brother.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 25, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor