Frankie Belle (Brazelton) Helmandottar

Born March 18, 1923, in Eldorado, TX, Frankie left to be with Jesus on December 14, 2019 in Newcastle, WA at the age of 96. She was the much loved mother of Patricia Imm, Steve Helmandottar, and Rick Helmandottar. She was also a proud and devoted mother-in-law, grandmother, a great-grandparent, a great-great grandmother and loyal friend.

Frankie married an enlisted soldier, CG Helmandottar (JC) during World War ll and and they spent many years as a military family living in various states and Japan as part of his military service. Frankie held the family together when JC was TDY or away for training. After retiring from the military, they made homes in CA, NV and then settled permanently in WA.

Frankie grew up as a child of the Great Depression and as #7 of 10 children the Brazelton family. Times were tough but the family was strong and relied on each other and their faith. Needless to say they didn’t have much in the way of material things and Frankie always yearned for a doll at Christmas. Finally, in 1980 when she was 57, Frankie received her first doll, a Shirley Temple replica. Thus began a whole new interest in doll-collecting, doll making and a business where she bought and sold dolls.

Friends and family enjoyed her sense of humor. She always had a twinkle in her eye and was up to any adventures people suggested. She loved hiking, camping, clothes shopping, travel, her dolls, sewing clothes for dolls, and river rafting.

Among the many loves and interests of Frankie was a strong relationship with God. She was a long-time member of Lake Hills Baptist Church and spent many years in the nursery rocking babies. She was also a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, and a member of the local doll club.

Who was Frankie?

•A Texan through and through

•Ditzy and funny and sometimes a drama queen

•An artist

•Loved Elvis Gospel music

•Her expression: I’m in “hog heaven” when she ate beans and cornbread

•Doll maker and antique doll collector

•A fantastic seamstress

•Repeatedly read books over and over to grandchildren

•Fantastic cook -especially of southern comfort food

•Pie and bread maker

•Killer Scrabble player

•Quilter

•Mariner fan (especially Danny Martinez)

•Nothing was better than curling up to read a good mystery

•Loved all genres of music-classical to country

•She hated driving

•Never turned down ICE CREAM

•Loved the beach (especially Oregon coast and Hawaii)

•Flowers bouquets from her yard graced her kitchen table

•Songs- “Deep in the Heart of Texas”, “Yellow Rose of Texas” and “Danny Boy”

•Playing in park with grand child

•Having tea in a doll house with a granddaughter

•Going to kids’ games (sons and granddaughter)

•Running through the sprinklers on a hot day

•Riding the kiddy rides at Seattle Center with a grandchild

•Playing in the surf in Cannon Beach and Hawaii

•Stood in line for hours to be an extra in a movie filmed in Seattle

•Real Mexican food -especially from Texas

Frankie loved Dr. Seaver who cared for her over many years. Several years ago, while in the hospital, she decided she’d had enough of hospitals and planned to escape and go to stay at Dr. Seaver’s house because she didn’t like her nurses. When asked how she would get there, her reply came without hesitation, “Walk of course”. She had no idea where he lived or any personal information but was persistent that she was leaving the hospital and would stay with him. I’m sure Dr. Seaver smiled when he was emailed and told to expect a house guest.

Once, after shopping at BelSquare, she got into her new car to leave the covered parking area. It seems the auto choke stuck and she had heard somewhere, if you hit the gas hard it would disengage. She must have missed the part about putting the car into PARK first because she put it into DRIVE and wrecked the whole front of the car on the wall of the garage . She was shocked after the dust cleared and the car was undriveable. She was a character!

She was truly a Yellow Rose of Texas!

In lieu of flowers:

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

16th Floor, 322 8th Ave

New York, New York 10001

Web site: alzfdn.org

Phone: 866 232-8484