Waunita Marie Helfers

Waunita was born on August 13, 1925, in Craig, Missouri to Hulda and Henry Taylor. Born with a firecracker spirit, Waunita was a self-avowed tomboy and would proudly share that she had her first job at age thirteen working as a papergirl making 25 cents a week. Waunita went on to successfully graduate from beauty school and opened her first salon in Craig before marrying Alvin “Cookie” Helfers and settling in Independence, Missouri to raise their beloved children, MaryAnn and Mark Alan.

While being a devoted wife and mother and running a successful beauty shop out of her home in Independence, she and Alvin retired in 1980 and moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas where they enjoyed an active retirement golfing, fishing, gardening, enjoying the company of friends, and feeding their menagerie of backyard birds and stray cats. As a devout member of the Lutheran community in Arkansas, Waunita devoted countless hours to supporting her faith community including making Braille Bibles, singing in the choir, and serving on hospitality committees.

An early devotee of yoga, Waunita was proudly putting palms to the floor well into her nineties. As a Depression era child, Waunita was wonderfully fiscally responsible — sewing clothes, canning fruits and vegetables, and hanging her clothes out to dry (much to the chagrin of her 1956 Maytag dryer). Waunita credited her family, faith, community and the refusal to sit still as the keys to a long and healthy life.

Waunita is preceded in death by brother Marvin Taylor, husband Alvin Helfers, and son Mark Helfers. She is survived by brother, Laverne Taylor, daughter, MaryAnn Johnston, daughter-in-law Pamela Helfers, grandchildren Anne Zagotta (Bob Zagotta), Clare Callahan (Adam Callahan), Clint Helfers (Haydee Helfers), Carrie Rust (Brett Rust) and great grandchildren Vivian Zagotta, Robert “Marshall” Zagotta, Grant Callahan, Griffin Callahan, Hudson Helfers, Cole Rust, Cade Rust, Cameron Rust, and Benjamin Helfers in addition to nieces and grand nieces and nephews.

Waunita will be laid in final rest beside Alvin at 1:00 pm on Saturday August 30, 2025, in I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Craig, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Luminos Hospice (700 NE R D Mize Road, Suite 200 Blue Springs, MO 64014) in her honor.