Helen will be greatly missed by sisters Janet Maxwell and Joyce Weitzel, grandsons Stuart and Nicholas Robbins, granddaughter-in-law Amber Robbins, and a large and loving group of extended family and friends. She joins parents Clyde and Zina Thees, husband Richard Standifer, and daughters Lee Standifer and Audrey Brennan.
Helen was born on November 11th, 1934 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Clyde and Zina Thees. As a young child, Helen and family moved to Ganado, Arizona where sisters Janet and Joyce were born and where Helen developed a life-long love of Native American, and especially Navajo, art and culture. Graduating from the University of Colorado with a degree in elementary education, she often combined her love of helping others and passing on her wisdom with her abiding passion for art to encourage the creativity of those around her— a trait she would pass on to daughter Audrey. Helen taught elementary school for several years before welcoming daughters Lee and Audrey with husband Richard and becoming a stay-at-home mother. In later years, Helen and sister Janet would travel across the country to sell their art at craft shows and eventually came to work at Creative Destinations bead store, designing patterns and teaching classes there.
Helen possessed a deep love of people. She was kind and thoughtful and inspired the same in others. She worked into the last year of her life for the joy of talking to customers, helping them creatively, and hearing their stories. As a mother and grandmother, Helen was patient, supportive, caring, and always full of love.
A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held for Helen on January 21st, 2023 at 9:00am at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park, located at 6747 E Broadway Rd in Mesa, Arizona 85206 with a reception to follow.
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