Helen G. Norvell

Helen was born August 19, 1911 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She loved playing in the snow as a little girl. Helen moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1918 with her brother Stuart and sister Marion, her parents Albert and Florence Holmes. Together they worked to raise crops on a farm. She hated picking cotton, but loved swimming in the canal on hot Texas afternoons.

Helen married at 15 to George Norvell. They started their new life in Taylor, Texas by starting a business and a family. George and Helen raised two wonderful daughters, Jean McDonald-Mathis of Dallas and Joyce Campbell of Austin. The Norvells moved to Austin in the 1950’s and built Norvell Machinery Company at 6535 North Lamar. Helen was a strong Christian and loved Hyde Park Christian Church. Helen taught many young people to become better Christians at Hyde Park Christian Church.

Family meant everything to her; it was her reason for being. Each of her 8 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends were blessed with her wonderful qualities and goodness. Helen was a very strong woman who could be tough as nails and soft and gentle like a butterfly.

In her 102 years she experienced horses to Model T’s, the depression, so many wars, no women’s rights, no television, no air conditioning, computers, smart phones, air travel and space flights…what a long amazing journey.

She was such a special person who extended her helping hands and loving ways to those in need. We will miss her funny stories; we will miss her cute smile and the sparkle in her eyes. We will miss her scootin’ across the floor, drinking her Coca-Cola and her spirit. Most of all we will miss hearing her say “I Love you”. A great friend, role model, grandmother, mother, sister, and aunt she was one of a kind, she was our sweet, sweet Granny.

Helen’s family expresses their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful people at the Pfamily Tree Assisted living in Pflugerville. They were awesome people and such a wonderful place for a loved one. Our Granny was their Granny and they treated her with love, respect and tender care. The family also thanks the special people at Odyssey Hospice who loved her and comforted her.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 6:30 until 8:30 in the evening, on Friday, the 9th of May 2014, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 in the afternoon on Saturday, the 10th of May 2014, at Hyde Park Christian Church, 6110 E 45th Street, Austin, Texas.

Any donation can be made in her memory to Hyde Park Christian Church or The Pfamily Tree Assisted Living in Pflugerville.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.