Helen Fowler - Watkins

Some people chase dreams of diamonds and gold, hoping for true happiness. Yet sometimes, the simplest of pleasures are the richest, and the most treasured. Helen Watkins was a woman who understood this better than anyone. She was a coal miner's daughter, just like the song, who grew up poor in pocket but so rich in love. Today her love enriches the lives of all who knew her.

Helen's story began on a hot summer day in 1950, in the mountaintown of Richlands, West Virginia. Those were turbulent times in this nation, as the dark skies of conflict clouded our country yet again, as we began fighting the Korean War, and the Cold War, as well. The Nuclear Age had begun, and the world would never be the same. Times were changing for Forrest and Maxine (Hatfield) Meeks, as well, with the birth of their fourth of nine children on August 20, 1950, a beautiful baby girl named Helen Elizabeth.

Helen's father toiled hard in the coal mines of West Virginia, while her mother was a homemaker. Times were tough, especially with nine little mouths to feed, but even though the family was poor, Helen never knew it. They truly had each other, and plenty of love to go around.

When Helen was 2 ½, the family packed up and moved to Kentucky, after her mother's prodding to move (she loved to move). Helen attended grade school there, and her roots grew deep in those rolling fields. A few years later, her father moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to work at Metal Craft, and pave the way for his family, who joined him there in 1964.

The move wasn't easy for Helen, who was entering high school that year. She ended up leaving before completing the ninth grade, though later she took home school classes to finish the grade.

Helen began working at the Kendal Furniture Company in Grand Rapids, where she worked as an assembler, doing spindle carving and other carvings. She enjoyed it there, and it would be the only job she ever had.

When Helen was a young woman, she went to a wedding reception with a friend of hers, who introduced Helen to her brother, Wilbur Watkins. Wilbur was a handsome, charismatic man in his mid-30s, very impressive to Helen, who hadn't had her 20th birthday yet. Despite a 17-year age gap, the sparks flew between them, and in the fall of 1970, just after she turned 20, Helen and Wilbur were married in Las Vegas.

It seemed as if their ages were their only difference, however. Helen and Wilbur shared so much in common, and loved to do similar things, like going for long drives, bargain-hunting at garage sales and flea markets, or going out to eat. Helen always enjoyed eating out, particularly for the meatloaf at the Swan Inn and the world-famous burritos at the Beltline Bar. Helen loved her snacks, too, and it seemed as if she always had a cookie or candy to go along with her Pepsi!

The newlyweds lived at 1326 Columbia NE, where they wasted little time starting their family. Helen and Wilbur were blessed with three wonderful children, Liz in 1971, Dave in 1973, and Andy in 1974, who filled their lives with happiness.

Helen was a wonderful wife and mother, who juggled those duties even while working at Kendal. Her children remember particularly well Helen's insistence that dinner start at 4 p.m. each day. Helen would come home from work, and have dinner prepared in "10 minutes or less." The family enjoyed simple but savory dinners, usually macaroni and cheese, or fish sticks. Helen also loved to bake Texas sheet cakes, or try new recipes from her cookbooks. If she had her druthers, though, Helen preferred to eat out.

Perhaps the reason she enjoyed eating out was so she wouldn't dirty her kitchen! Helen was a "neat freak" who got up at 5 a.m. on Saturdays to begin her four-hour cleaning ritual, with her favorite Conway Twitty songs as the soundtrack to her chores. She was always an energetic, vibrant woman, who didn't like to simply sit around. Once her work was completed, she'd head off to shop at the mall with her daughter Liz at noon, hitting her favorite three stores, Target, Kohl's and JC Penney's.

The family didn't take many vacations over the years, although they did travel to Kentucky in the summertime to visit relatives. The holidays were always filled with tradition in Helen's home, as well. She loved to decorate her house, and she had to watch three of her favorite movies during the season, the Sound of Music, the Wizard of Oz, and a Christmas Story. The kids were also allowed to open one present each on Christmas Eve, and the rest on Christmas Day, although it seems as if it was always the worst one they opened first!

Sadly, her beloved Wilbur died in 1997, after nearly 27 years of wonderful marriage together. Helen tried to be strong, and put up front that she was OK, but she was a bit lost without him. She continued working at Kendal Furniture for a few years, until retiring in 2001, and she remained as social and outgoing as ever. She loved to have lunch with her best friends, Carol Fisk and Denise Speary, who meant so much to her. She was always a "people person" though, whether it was close friends in her life, or the Mormons she invited into her home to talk.

Helen battled cancer into remission twice over the past few years, and after she retired she moved to Texas to live with her brother Ricky. One day in 2004, she fell and broke her leg, and they discovered she had bone cancer. Helen returned to Grand Rapids to live with her brother Bill, to be closer to the rest of her family, especially her 12 grandkids she absolutely adored. After bravely battling the disease for many years, Helen died Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at Bill's home.

Helen was a remarkable woman, so strong willed, so fearless no matter the challenge ahead of her. She was raised as a coal miner's daughter, who never needed diamonds to find her happiness. Helen was enriched by the love of her family in her heart, a heart made of pure gold, and the gift she shared with us all. She will be so greatly missed.

Helen is survived by her children, Liz Morgan and children Aaron Heath and Ashley Elizabeth, Dave (Trisha) Watkins and their children, and Andy (Sherrie) Watkins and children Nena Nicole Watkins and Brian Gay and Brianna Gay; and her mother, Maxine Roberts. Also surviving are siblings, Bill (Jeanene) Meeks, Sandy (John) Conley, Earni Lee Meeks, Kathy (James) Blair, Forrest Meeks Jr. and Ricky (Noella) Meeks; sisters-in-law, Deanna (Mike) Bartlett and Vivian Hilliker; several nieces, nephews, and cousins, and special friends, Carol and Denise. A Celebration of her life will be held at 1 P.M. on Friday, February 9, 2007 at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes - Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE. Friends may meet the family today from 7-9 P.M. at the funeral home. Interment in Fairplains Cemetery. Contributions to the family to help defray funeral expenses would be appreciated. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to read her entire Life Story, share a memory or photo or sign the guestbook.