Helen Jean Boyer

Helen Jean Bartlett Boyer was born June 28, 1925, in Fairmont, WV. After a well-loved and well-lived life, she passed peacefully on March 11, 2025, at River Landing Presbyterian Retirement Community in Colfax, NC.

She leaves behind her daughters, Sharon K. Gray and Karen S. Johnson (Rich Adams); her beloved grandchildren, Jenny Gray, Allen Gray, Ana Gray, Tyler Johnson (Jonny Runckel) and Cody Johnson and three wonderful great-grandchildren, whom she got to spend a lot of time with, Noelle Gray, Riley Byrd and Dean Gray.

She was predeceased by her husband, Dean Boyer, (died 11-7-2002) and her cherished sons-in-law, Brett Johnson & Russell Gray. She carried their memory in her heart throughout her life, and now they are together once more. She is also once again with her parents, Kenneth W Bartlett, (died 1967) & Georgia D Bartlett, (died 1992).

After high school graduation, Helen attended The University of West Virginia in Morgantown, WV and graduated in 1947. She majored in Spanish & French and minored in English. After graduation, she moved to NY and attended secretarial school.

She went to work for WBLK Radio as “Miss 1400” morning show and met Daddy there. She married Hillis Dean Boyer on Nov 18, 1950. They didn’t have a car when they married, so their best man drove them to Pittsburgh for their honeymoon. They adopted twin girls in 1956 while living in Lincoln Village, Columbus, Ohio. They saw us at 3 days old and got to bring us home at 6 weeks. They lived in several states including Ohio where Dean was from, WV, GA, KY, NC & SC, wherever baseball & work took them.

Helen worked for JP Stevens from 1969 to 1999 and that is what took them to Easley, SC. In 2002 after Dean passed, she made the decision to move back to Greensboro and into River Landing Presbyterian Retirement Community. She was one of their very first residents and loved living there. She loved her Braves and baseball. Helen loved to quilt, she was a member of several quilt guilds in SC & NC and even taught it when she came to River Landing. She was a long-time and well-loved member at Sedgefield Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School and was an Elder. While in Greenville SC, she taught adults to read that had never learned how through the Literary Guild. Helen was an active member of McCarter Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC, serving in many capacities.

The family can never thank River Landing staff enough for their kindness and love. Special love and thanks to Anita Lampkin and Angela Brawley, caregivers, who became family.

The family would also like to thank our friends for their support, prayers and love over the past four difficult weeks.

In lieu of flowers, Helen would want donations to go to:

Sedgefield Presbyterian Church, 4216 Wayne Rd, Greensboro, NC 27407, or to Animal Rescue and Foster Program 711 Milner Dr, Greensboro, NC 27410.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 19 at 4:00PM at Sedgefield Presbyterian Church, 4216 Wayne Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410. A reception to visit with friends and loved ones will immediately follow the memorial service.

Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfhsedgefield.com