Beloved mother, Helen Mae (Gilley) Cowel, of Oxford, Kansas, passed away on Monday, January 6, 2025, in Wellington, Kansas at the age of 94. Her incredible life began on August 3, 1930, in Conway, Arkansas, when born to parents, Joseph Melvin and Annie Mae (Foshee) Gilley and sister to Flora and Lucille.
Her early years where primarily defined by the Great Depression in which she began picking cotton young alongside her family, all while going to school where she excelled in academics, making friends, and playing basketball in high school.
Though there was economic hardship across the country in her youth, as the upturn of the depression was in the recent past, it allowed her to find love when a neighbor introduced her to, William K. Cowell. After their love affair began, a marriage ceremony commenced on Forbes Field, which is site of the Topeka Army Airfield in Kansas.
From this came the highlight of her life, when daughter, Debra was born in 1961. Together with William, Helen enjoyed her life as she worked at Sunnyside Nursery as a florist, valued her faith as she attended Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, and in her down time, enjoyed the beauty of their garden and the cheering that came along with watching sports.
Helen’s life began in one of the most challenging eras, yet she was able to overcome those obstacles, met and married her life partner, and raised a family with a legacy they are proud to carry forward.
She is preceded by her parents, siblings, spouse, and twin grandsons.
Those left to cherish her memory are daughter, Debra (Robert) Cranmer; and grandchildren, Annie (Ryan) Ramirez, Christopher Cranmer, McKenna, Keeli, Taylen, Maesey, Cayson, Addyson, and Maddelyn.
A funeral service for Helen will be held Friday, January 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Resthaven Mortuary, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS 67209. Her final resting place will be in Resthaven Gardens of Memory, Garden of Love.
Serving as pallbearers are Robert Cranmer, Chris Cranmer, Ryan Ramirez, Taylen Ramirez, Cayson Ramirez and Tyler Vaughn.
