Helen "Jean" Worden

Jean was born May 26, 1937 in Wichita, Kansas. She was the eldest of her parents Ray and Doris Jean Shofner. During World War II, she remembered living at the Army base in Ft. Riley, Kansas. The family returned to Wichita after the war. It was at that time she began pursuing a lifelong passion for music, playing the piano and pipe organ. She graduated from Wichita North High School in 1954.

At that time, she began her college education and would eventually meet Clayton Worden who was serving as a youth minister at Riverside Christian Church. They would go on to marry on June 16, 1956 there in Wichita.

Jean completed her Bachelor of Arts in Music at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma in May 1958. Following Clayton’s ordination that year as a minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), together they served churches in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Texas. During their time in Kansas City, Jean completed her Master of Arts at UMKC in 1970.

Throughout the years Jean served the Lord not only as a pastor’s wife, but also as a choir director, organist or Sunday school teacher. Her love of music, however, was her passion and inspired countless children and adults to a greater appreciation of not only her talent but their own gifts. Many will remember her as the church organist and handbell choir director. Others will remember her as the patient piano teacher sitting beside them at the piano during a weekly lesson. And some will remember her as the accompanist for the Kilgore (TX) Rangerettes.

Jean retired from being a church organist at First Christian Church in Tyler, TX on Sunday, September 26, 2021, culminating 73 years of playing the organ in service to God. As her health dictated, she left Tyler, Texas and moved to Edmond, Oklahoma in August 2023 to be near her daughter.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband the Reverend Doctor Clayton Worden, her parents Ray and Doris Jean Shofner, her brother Charles Ray Shofner, sister Marjorie Glaze and grandson Chandler Clark.

She is survived by her son Meredith Worden (Michelle), daughter Sheridan Clark (Neil), and granddaughter Savannah Worden (Dominick).

A private graveside memorial for immediate family will proceed her burial at Walters, Oklahoma.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the music program at First Christian Church in Tyler, Texas.

A graveside service for Helen will be held Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Walters Cemetery, Walters, Walters, OK 73572.