Helene Genevieve Hooper

Gen grew up in Dearborn, Michigan. After graduating from Dearborn High School, she attended Asbury College in Kentucky, then transferred to Michigan State College, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

She lived in Mount Clemens, Michigan from 1952 to 1961, where she edited and published her church’s newsletter and took her first art classes. In 1961, she and her husband, along with their four children, moved to Arlington, Texas. There she again edited and published a church newsletter and took more art classes. Eventually she became a full-time artist and painting instructor, as well as the owner of various art supply and framing shops.

She created at least one painting a day for nearly four decades, selling most of them. She also wrote extensively and published from her Chimney Corners Gallery in Joshua, Texas.

Gen is preceded in death by her husband and father of her children Jack Blow; her second husband John Hooper; her daughter Laura Tiede; and by her son Randy Blow.

She is survived by her son Gerald Blow, her daughter Andrea Richey, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.