Helen Lou Drane age 85 of Pensacola Florida passed from this world peacefully on March 12, 2018 at her home. She was born December 12, 1932 in Moulton, Alabama, one of six children to her parents, Howard and Edna Kelley Drane. Helen is preceded in death by all five of her siblings. John Drane, Clara Jean Drane Daniels , Dorothy Fay Drane Soden, Edmond Dale Drane, and Marian Drane Williams.
Helen grew up in Blytheville, Arkansas where she graduated from Gosnell High School in 1951. Helen had a passion for music of many varieties gospel, early rock and roll, country western even disco which she later shared with her nieces. Helen loved to dance and play her 45's. Helen especially liked Elvis Presley which she was lucky enough to meet and get her photo with him in 1956. Helen loved photography and always had her camera with her. She loved making movies along with taking still photos. She shared this talent with all her siblings, nieces, nephews and friends making wonderful memories of everyone she knew documenting their childhood through all the years. Sometimes it would be “please no more pictures” but once everyone got to see her eye with the camera. We could not wait to see all the photos she would put together. She could capture moments in time that have become a special gift to remember and cherish forever. Helen was a hard-working independent resourceful woman. She had a strong work ethic. She always had a job in business from Singer Sewing Machine after High School graduation, becoming a secretary and moving to San Francisco, California.
She obtained her final job with Pensacola Naval Complex as a secretary bookkeeper working diligently for 26 years until her retirement on November 30, 1988. Helen loved taking road trips to visit her sisters and brothers some close some far from Arkansas, Illinois and Wisconsin. Helen enjoyed sharing Pensacola, Florida with her sisters and brothers and their children always opening her home with the best hospitality. Helen was very generous always sending birthday cards and buying gifts when she visited. Helen never married or had any children. Helen will be remembered for her exceptional artist eye with photography, her love of music, big smile, and love.
Graveside services will be held at 9:00 a.m., Friday, August 31, 2018 at Bayview Memorial Park.
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