Lelvyn “Pat” Helpenstell Marshall went to be with our Lord on Monday, September 7, 2020. She passed peacefully under Hospice Care in her home at Dancing River Assisted Living in Grapevine, Texas, attended by the dedicated staff and her loving family. Born November 17, 1927 in Cedar Bluff, Texas to John D Helpenstell and Gladys Morrow Helpenstell, she lived in and around Mt. Enterprise, Texas as a child and student. She was one of four children – brother, Edward Helpenstell, and sisters Thelma Pierce Lyles and Alice Fenton Morris.
Lelvyn attended Stephen F. Austin State College and graduated with a double Master’s Degree in Education and English. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. As a resident of Nacogdoches, Texas most of her life she taught third, fourth and fifth grades in the Nacogdoches Independent School District for 33 years, retiring in 1989. During her time as a teacher she entered into an exchange program and spent one year teaching in Puckapunyal, Victoria, Australia.
She loved to travel and lived as an expat with then husband Bill Marshall in Singapore and Malaysia, travelling to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia while in the East. They also travelled extensively in Europe. Later she loved to travel with her sisters, Thelma and Alice. As teachers, they all wanted to see the geography about which they had taught - from Barrow, Alaska to the mountains of New Zealand. They were very close and loved being together.
Bridge was a passion for Lelvyn and she belonged to various Bridge clubs. She also loved walking with the East Texas Trekkers Volksmarching and Walking Club; and reading, belonging to several book clubs. Lelvyn was a member of the Red Hat Society and the Nacogdoches Newcomers Club. She volunteered at First Methodist Church in Nacogdoches where she was a member, and also served as a docent for the Nacogdoches Tourist Bureau.
She is preceded in death by her parents, brother, and two sisters. Lelvyn is survived by her daughters, Helen Wright Herd of Kerrville, Texas, and Michele McLemore Sirotnak and husband Mark of Colleyville, Texas; grandsons, Andrew and Alek Sirotnak of Colleyville, Texas. She is also survived by nephew Bob Pierce of Mt. Enterprise, Texas, nephew Richard Fenton and wife Allison of Nacogdoches, Texas; niece Gail Fenton Church of Hawkins, Texas; and five grandnieces.
The family would like to thank the staff of Dancing River Assisted Living and Custom Care Home Hospice for their excellent care.
