Marna Rae (Marty to all her friends), was born on March 8, 1935 in Minnesota to Cecil Theodore (Ted) Helgeson and Erna Helen Taubman Helgeson. She was always proud of her siblings, sister Pat, and brothers, Chuck and Bill. As the daughter of a pipefitter that moved constantly for work, Marty never attended the same school in the same city more than one year in a row until she reached high school age, when she attended and graduated from Alvin High School in Alvin, Texas.
Marty married and soon became the Mother to a tow-headed little girl, named Gail, and then, an equally blonde little boy, named Mitchell. She soon went to work for Doctors Hospital located in Houston, Texas as a Medical Records Secretary and many years later moved to a position of Executive Secretary with Schlumberger Oil in 1973, in Houston, Texas, where she remained until retirement in 1992. After retirement, Marty found much happiness in serving as a Sunshine Volunteer for College Station Medical Center, in College Station, Texas. In 1973, she married the love of her life, Charles Parks and they lived a fairy tale, happily-ever-after life until cancer ended their joyful union in 1992. Their’s was a match made in heaven.
The joining of these two extraordinary people led Marty to become step-mother to Carla and Chuck, whom she loved with all her heart.
Before you knew it these four children grew to be adults, and began to have families of their own. Soon Marty and Charlie soon became forever known to all as Granny and Pop-they loved and were loved beyond compare by these adoring 11 grandchildren and their spouses, as well: Jeffrey & Margaret, Stacey & Paul, Ryan & Sarah, Casey, Jaysen & Amber, Jason & Amy, Stephanie & Will, Emily & Stephen, Meredith & Izzy, Jason & Kelli, and Rebekah & Adam.
After Pop’s untimely death, Granny’s legacy continued to blossom and she soon became affectionally know as GG (great-grandmother) to her 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild: Riley, KK, Brenna, Natalie, Nate, Charlie, Chandler, Chaney, Brody, Ally, Audi, Lexi, Lucas, Ashlynn, Zoe, Audrianna, Anna, Annaliese, Nathaniel, Naomi, Clay & Elise and Kinsley.
Her love for her children, grand-children, great-grand-children and great-great grandchild and her 10 nieces and nephews was never ending and the joy she found in them all was immeasurable.
Everyone that met Marty, even once, was captured by her spirit and contagious smile. She loved life, adventure, and travel, and never met a stranger. Along the way there were so many friends, because everyone loved Marty, but there were definitely special loves found in Joyce, Ashley, Momo and Farrah, but perhaps one of the most special bonds formed between her and Gail's husband, her beloved son-in-law, Mike. Marty was spunky, sassy, vivacious, hilarious and there was often just a dash of inappropriateness. She loved sparkles, shopping, shoes (so many shoes), big flashy jewelry, clothes and hats. And she loved the Lord.
When asked at the end of life, what is the one thing you want us to tell everyone…she replied,
“Tell them it was a Great Life!!”
Marty was preceded in death by her parents, brother Chuck, her husband Charlie, her son Mitchell, her step-son Chuck, her husband Buddy Flanakin and sister-in-law Liz and we know that they were waiting with open arms to welcome her at Heaven’s gates to show her the light of our Lord and Savior.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 W. 26th Street, Bryan, Texas 77803, in memory of Marty Flanakin.
