Helen Mae Bracey

Helen Bracey went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, to a joyful reunion in heaven. Her daughter, Marjorie, and special family friend, Trudy Fuchs, were by her side as she passed peacefully from her earthly life to her eternal home.

Helen was born on April 21, 1920 in Louise, (Wharton County) Texas to Raymond and Matilda Emma Lurker Haigh. She was 91 years old. She is preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, John F. Bracey, sons, John Wesley Bracey and Samuel Neal Bracey, her parents, her sisters, Isabell Argeaneas, Ruth Wood, and brother, Donald E. Haigh.

She is survived by her daughter, Marjorie Bracey Jones of Huntsville, and five granddogs, Jazzmine, Lilly, Dayzie Mae, Ozzie and Toby, one brother and sister-in-law, Russell E. and Carol Haigh of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, one sister, Esther Filip of Danbury, Texas, one sister-in-law, Norma Haigh of Katy, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Helen graduated from high school in Cameron, Texas in 1938. She attended nursing school at the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Houston, Texas and graduated as a registered nurse in September of 1943. After receiving her RN, she joined the United States Army as a nurse. She was stationed in Del Rio, Texas where she met John F. Bracey. They married on November 4, 1944 in San Antonio, Texas. Her plan was to see the world, but she never got out of the state of Texas during the 2 years that she served.

After retiring from the service, Helen and John settled in Angleton, Texas where they lived until 1980. They moved to Marble Falls, Texas and lived there until 1987, when they moved to Huntsville.

After the death of her second son, she went back to work in a local physician’s office, and later as a public health nurse for Brazoria County. She retired from nursing in 1980.

Helen has been a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. She has been a member of First United Methodist Church in Huntsville for 24 years. She was a member of the Joy Sunday School Class and a member of the Mary Frances Park Group of the United Methodist Women.

Helen was a loving mother and a kind, considerate person. Everyone who met her commented on her sweet, gentle spirit. She always thought of others first before herself, and was always more than willing to help others in any way she could.

The family would like to thank Dr. David Toronjo, the staff on the third floor of Huntsville Memorial Hospital, as well as all of the staff at The Lexington Assisted Living Center and the Ella Smither Geriatric Center.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 2 pm at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Scott Dornbush officiating. Visitation will be before the service from 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm in the church sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church, 1016 Sam Houston Avenue, Huntsville, Texas 77340 and designate the Ella Smither Geriatric Center, or to the Good Shepherd Mission, P.O. Box 7281, Huntsville, Texas 77342.