Helen H. Gayton

Helen was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and raised in Garfield, New Jersey. A spiritual person who had a strong relationship with God, she was also a cherished daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother while also a devoted and beloved wife to her husband Bill, guiding and supporting him through both adversity and triumph for 60 years of a joyful and loving marriage.

Helen was a person who saw the good in everyone. She made many friends, from her hometown of Garfield to her final home of San Antonio, touching lives everywhere she went. Her respect and admiration for them was evident in their relationships, many of them spanning decades.

She was a very intelligent and curious person, who could carry on a lively discussion on a variety of topics. A person who was an honest and forthright individual, pragmatic and mischievous in turn. Helen loved baseball, archery, cars, arts/crafts, reading, bad puns and over her lifetime along with Bill, giving a loving home to many rescue animals. She actively participated in her daughter and granddaughters' lives, and made sure that every party she threw was a joyful event. Helen especially enjoyed shopping with her daughter and her granddaughters and having lunch with them. She also took pride in her home, and created a warm and loving environment for all. Helen's compassion and sensitivity for other people touched so many lives in positive ways.

Helen graduated Summa-Cum-Laude from Troy University, and obtained a Masters in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University. After graduation, she went to work at The Center for Health Care Services where she again made many lifelong friends. She retired from the Center in March 2006 and kept busy with other interests, including involvement in her church and community.

Helen was a prolific writer who wrote many stories for herself on her life, her travels and her family to pass down the family lore. She was also a world traveler, with Europe being a frequent destination. She visited Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland many times along with trips to Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia. She also made many trips within the United States, both as an Army wife and after her retirement.

She devoted her life to her family, to Bill's success in the military and business world and their mutual well-being, along with the traveling. No one in our family, or her circle of friends, could fail to see the deep love and devotion that she had for everyone around her. She was also blessed to see and know her great-granddaughter Madelyn, born March 1, 2021.

The family would like to acknowledge the professionalism, the compassion and understanding of Virginia Wardlaw, RN and Vangie Fox, CNA from Crest Palliative Care. They and the Crest staff made our time with Helen a blessed experience.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Edmund and Stella Jezierski, her sister Elaine Walker, Bill's parents Paul and Gertrude Gayton, her sister-in-law Marianne Isaia and nephew James Isaia Jr.

Helen is survived by her beloved husband William (Bill), daughter Elizabeth Gutierrez (husband Mario), granddaughters Catherine Thicksten (husband Michael) and Alexandria Gutierrez, and great-granddaughter Madelyn Thicksten. She is also survived by her much-loved extended family: brother-in-law James Isaia, nieces and nephews Monique McOwen (Joe), Regina Farlakus (Michael), Jeffery Isaia, Vincent Isaia (Linda) and Kelly Molinari (Vincent), Brent Walker (Kate), and in-laws Steve and Nina Thicksten.