Helen Bernice Mays

She was born on Friday, March 20, 1914 in Goodman, Missouri, raised in Montana, and graduated from Robert High School in 1933. Helen moved to Columbus, Ohio at the age of twenty-five. She was a farm girl, a cook, hair dresser, bookkeeper, wife, mother, gardener, and a McDonald's girl until she retired from the Gahanna store after serving for twelve years.

Helen was a woman of honor.

She is survived by her four children, Richard Smith of Columbus, Mrs. Oscar (Betty) Colburn of Orient, Ralph Smith of Guamuchil, Mexico, and Emerson W. Mays Jr. of Croton, Ohio; two grandchildren whom she raised, Nickolas Brandon Smith of Westerville and Mrs. Vincent (Anita) D'Andrea of Westerville, Ohio; as well as 19 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Emmet Caulder and May Belle Egner, born Wimpey, of Danville, Washington. She is also preceded in death by her husbands, Emerson "Doc" Woodrow Mays and Ballard Spencer Smith both of Columbus as well as her three siblings, brothers, Bernard W. Egner of Republic, Washington and Glenn Harold Egner of Kettle Falls, Washington and one sister, Hazel Vangela Wachsmuth of Columbus, Ohio and her great-granddaughter, Deborah Jean Ratliff of Orient, Ohio.

To honor our mother's request we ask that you do not send flowers. You were the flowers and the joy in her life.

There will be no viewing but a graveside service will be held at Mifflin Cemetery located in Gahanna at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, 2017 where she will be laid to rest next to her late husband Emerson. Pastor John Colburn will officiate.

The family would like to thank Mount Carmel Hospice for their help and all of our family and friends for their unending support. To all of her grandchildren, big and small, a special thank you for showing our mother such boundless love.