Helen C Parks

Helen Cree was born December 16, 1918 in New York City, the older daughter of Helen and Alexander Cree. As a child, she adored living with her extended family on Long Island, helping her grandmother in her New York City deli, spending weekends at Jones beach, and attending sulky harness races with her grandfather. She later attended Hunter College, New York, and worked as a model. In 1939, while working in the Pharmaceutical Pavilion at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, Helen met Horace Guinn Lewis, Jr., a young Texan who was performing in the World’s Fair Rodeo. Weeks later they eloped to Texas on the train.

Helen immersed herself in her new life—learning to hunt, fish, ride horses, and raise cattle alongside Horace. They later moved to Hattiesburg, MS and had 3 children before Horace tragically died in a commercial plane crash on February 14, 1953.

Helen Lewis later married Dwight Parks and resided in Waco, Texas where they had 2 daughters. Helen raised her 5 children in Waco, and in 2004, moved to Richardson, TX to be closer to family.

Helen loved life, her family, the outdoors. She was a devoted mother, a caring friend, an extraordinary cook, an avid reader, and a creative and artistic homemaker. Nothing gave her more pleasure than being with family and friends in her home or at the beach.

She is survived by her children, H. Guinn Lewis III and partner Scott Brady (Pensacola, FL), Dr. Jack W. Lewis and wife Debbie (Garland, TX), Ann Lewis Henkin and husband Joseph (Sioux Falls, SD), Cindy Parks Vardeman (Hewitt, TX), and Lynn Parks (Austin, TX), as well as her grandchildren Jack Lewis II and wife Marianne, Bryan Germany, Joseph Henkin III, Helen Henkin Kluck and husband Jeff, Katherine Henkin, Matthew Vardeman and wife Susan, Thomas Vardeman, and Lauren Vardeman and her great grandchildren Jake and Gracie Lewis and Blaine Vardeman.

A family memorial service will be held at the beach in Destin, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children or your favorite charity. The family is forever grateful to those who gave such loving care to our mom.