Helen Cleary

Helen Prentice Cleary, daughter of the late Nell Prentice and Thomas W. Prentice was born at home in Ponca City December 18, 1919 and died Thursday February 24, 2011. A lifelong Christian Scientist, she was graduated from Principia Upper School in St. Louis and Pine Manor College in Boston. She attended OU and was graduated from Toby Coburn School of Fashion in New York City. The latter training prepared her for sales and management jobs at Filene’s in Boston, Miami, and Neiman-Marcus in Dallas. In 1946 she was hired by Harper’s Bazaar magazine to become the West Coast Editor in Los Angeles, living in Beverly Hills. In an unlikely meeting and correspondence courtship, she met and married William B. Cleary, also of Ponca City, whom she first met in 1st grade. Following their marriage March 30, 1948, they established a home in Oklahoma City where WBC was engaged as an independent in the oil and gas business. She was his principal support in his business, as his mixed doubles tennis partner and in his sport of competition soaring for 13 years, serving as his crew chief with principal responsibilities in towing the sailplane and maintaining maps, radio, parachute, and other essential equipment.

She served for 3 years as 2nd Reader in her Church, was active in the Junior League and was Chairman of the Winter Ball. She enjoyed her memberships in the Wednesday Review Club, Wednesday Study Club and the Antiques Club. She was a long time member of the OKC Symphony Society, the OKC Philharmonic, and the OKC Museum of Art. She loved music and their home reflected her exquisite taste in design. Their lives were blessed with three children, Louise, Anne and Douglas. She loved her family, her Church, her Golden Retrievers, her garden, and their homes in Nichols Hills and Crested Butte, CO. An excellent athlete, she was active in tennis and physical training into her 88th year. She became a victim of Alzheimer’s around 2005 and was blessed to have help from daughter Anne, compassionate and caring home care supporters Betsy, Joyce, Keisha, Lynn, Rochelle & Vivian, and long time friend Betty Germany. The family appreciates the caring given by Manchester House and Integris Hospice House.

She is survived by her husband Bill, children Louise Cleary, Anne Steninger, and Doug Cleary, and grandchildren Ian Steninger, Scott Steninger, Connor Cleary and Miranda Cleary, and great-grandson Kane Horton.

A memorial service is planned on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 2 pm at the Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Chapel, 6600 Broadway, OKC, OK. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, OK & AR Chapter, P.O. Box 96011, Washington DC, 20090 or the charity of your choice.