Helene Johnson Treat

Helene Johnson Treat was born October 30, 1935, in El Paso, Texas, to Hubert Herndon Johnson and Helene Hubbard Johnson. Helene died on October 25, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 88 of natural causes. Growing up in a border town, she was immersed from birth in Spanish/Mexican and Native cultures. Helene loved the diversity in which she was reared, became bilingual at an early age and retained her fluency the rest of her life. Helene was smart, well-read and excelled in school. She cherished time with her family, especially her grandparents. She became a sister to her brother, Bill, in 1943 and then a sister to Janet, in 1950. Being the first born, and female, Helene was given much responsibility for the early care of her siblings.

Helene graduated from Ysleta High School in El Paso in 1953 and was class salutatorian. She entered Texas Western (UTEP) University that Fall and attended classes there for two years. After the death of her father, Helene moved home to support her family but soon thereafter met a lanky Army lieutenant named Herb Treat. They married in June 1956 and she joined him at Purdue University, where she completed a B.A. in English.

In 1958, Helene and Herb moved to Albuquerque, NM, and had their first child, David, in December of 1959. Jennifer followed in May of 1962. Helene raised children, was very involved at First Presbyterian Church and developed her love for New Mexico… and for Ghost Ranch.

When Herb accepted a teaching position at Trinity University, the family moved to San Antonio in 1968, and Bryan was born in February of 1970. The family quickly became involved at University Presbyterian Church and Helene forged bonds of friendship there that lasted the rest of her life. In the early 1970s, Helene was integral in the founding of the University Presbyterian Children’s Center, later joining the staff as a teacher and then as Executive Director. UPCC’s core values of helping young children – especially those who are disadvantaged – were of paramount importance to her.

Helene was a voracious reader her entire life and put that interest to use when she began work at the Twig Book Shop in the early 1980s. She later became manager of The Red Balloon, a children’s book store, where she remained until 1994. She had a deep affection for all children and was quick with book recommendations – for kids and adults. She attended numerous publishing conferences but her principal joy was in sitting cross-legged on the floor of The Red Balloon for story time – with many kids in rapt attention.

At the family home in San Antonio, Helene’s focus was always outside. While Herb worked on corn and tomatoes, Helene’s focus was squarely on flowers – any flowers. She annually planted a huge bed of zinnias in honor of her mother and zinnias are featured prominently in Treat family photos. She loved to see anything grow and could bring any suffering plant back to life. With all her time outside, she developed a love for birds as well and possessed a strong working knowledge of them.

In 1994, she and Herb moved to Austin. They, again, became active in a community of faith – First Presbyterian Church. Helene worked on numerous committees, gave her time to Habitat for Humanity and threw herself into volunteering at Manos de Christo – a nonprofit focused on providing ESL, dental care, and basic needs to the less fortunate of East Austin.

Upon Herb’s death in 2000, after 44 years of marriage, Helene was rudderless for a time – but her wide circle of friends and family rallied around her, especially members of First Presbyterian Church. Despite her pain, Helene was able to regain her footing, her sense of joy, and had deep gratitude for the positive things in her life.

In 2009, Helene returned to San Antonio and her beloved UPC. She served in various functions, including on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Center. She also reconnected with Larry Adamson, a dear friend of 40+ years, and they enjoyed a close partnership for the last 15 years of her life. The debt of gratitude to Larry and the entire Adamson family cannot be overstated, as Larry’s exuberance, love, happiness, and openness is a gift she relished.

Helene was raised in a time when girls and young women were not given the emotional support they deserved, especially with regard to academics and careers. Helene was not an exception. She struggled as an adult with self-confidence and found confrontation difficult. But she held close to her heart the ideals of grace, empathy, love, and kindness – to all people, everywhere. Since her death, there has been an outpouring of messages about her humor, her joy, her kindness, and her laugh. She loved to laugh.

Since 2015, the political climate in the U.S. concerned her greatly. Helene could be a fierce advocate for others even as she failed to defend herself. She was incapable of hiding emotion and felt things deeply. And she abhorred cruelty. Happily, she will be spared the pain of witnessing the next four years of hatefulness and greed that so typifies in the incoming resident of the White House.

She had a generous heart and a warm smile, and cared deeply for those less fortunate. When asked what she stood for more than anything else, she replied, “Kindness. Basic kindness.” And she made a helluva lasagna that was enjoyed over the years by countless of her friends and family members.

Helene had a deep appreciation for simple pleasures including a good book, a classic movie, beautiful music, and breakfast at Jim's with her gal pals. She could be brought to tears easily by a song… or a joke. She was deeply loved by her husband of 44 years, Herb Treat, and her longtime companion since 2009, Larry Adamson. She was devoted to her family, including her siblings, children, grandchildren and GREAT grandchildren who were equally devoted to her. She will be missed by many.

She is survived by her partner, Larry Adamson, and her children and their families; David Treat (Lisa Swinny Treat), Jennifer Treat (Dawn Laguens) and Bryan Treat. She also leaves behind 7 grandchildren; Chlóe Treat, India Treat, Keenan Treat, Brontë Treat, Hallett Treat, Kate Treat and Sydney Treat, as well as two great grandchildren; Cora Matias-Treat and Solomon Matias-Treat, and siblings Bill Johnson and Janet Repa. Helene was preceded in death by her husband, Herb Treat.

Donations in her honor can be made to the University Presbyterian Children’s Center. Please visit https://upcsa.org/giving/. Checks can also be made payable to UPC and mailed to the address below:

University Presbyterian ChurchAttn: Helene Treat Memorial Fund300 Bushnell AvenueSan Antonio, TX 78212