Helen Eileen Hawthorne

Helen Eileen (Bailey) Hawthorne daughter of Clarence LeRoy Bailey and Sadie Ray (Woodworth) Bailey, was born on July 5, 1924 in Foraker, Oklahoma. She graduated from Foraker High School, along with 6 other classmates, on in 1941. She married William Glaen Hawthorne, Jr. (Bill) on April 6, 1944. They had 3 children: James Robert Hawthorne, John David Hawthorne and Jeanne Kay Hawthorne. In 1961, she started working as a secretary for the Speech and Theatre Arts Department at Colorado State University. Helen established lasting friendships with many of the department’s professors and garnered a reputation as a hostess for a number of memorable office parties. Earlier in life, Helen loved to roller skate and play ping pong. She enjoyed water skiing during weekend, family outings on Longs pond. Though she never became a realtor, Helen loved transitions from one house to the next and had a proclivity for decorating. After retirement, Bill and Helen traveled across the country in several motorhomes. They especially enjoyed collecting southwestern art/jewelry. Their son, John, wove a wall hanging which occupied a position of distinction at the heart of their collection.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Ruth Meryl Bailey, brother Joe Woodworth Bailey, husband Bill, and daughter Jeanne. She is survived by son John Hawthorne of Fort Collins, son Jim and wife Sally of Denison, Texas, Jeanne’s partner Cory Madey of Portland, Oregon, grandchildren Aharon Madey of Portland, Oregon, Christopher Hawthorne of Kansas City, Missouri, and April Hawthorne of San Francisco, California. Helen died on October 24, 2019. At the time of her death, she was 95.

Arrangements for a celebration of Helen’s life are pending. Memorials may be made to Suncrest Hospice, 1605 Foxtrail Drive # 200, Loveland, CO 80538.