Helen M. Lewis

Helen M. Lewis, 89, resident of Cottonwood, passed away February 19, 2007. She was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on November 23, 1917 to James M. and Doris (Bartleson) Haskell. At the age of 10 the family moved to Tulsa, where she took piano lessons at Tulsa University's Children Department and began her life long commitment and love of music. Helen started pipe organ lessons when she was in High School, and was fortunate to have many opportunities to utilize her musical talents at the large church where she and her family were members. At the young age of 15 Helen started directing choirs, and filled in for a youth summer conference at the last minute. She graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1935, and attended her first two years of college at Tulsa University. Helen transferred to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois when she was asked to do Christian Education work at the Presbyterian Church in LaGrange, Illinois. Helen carried a full schedule as she attended classes Monday through Thursday and worked Friday through Sunday. It was here that she met her future husband, Philip Lewis. He graduated from McCormick Theological Seminary and she graduated from Northwestern in 1939. They married in Tulsa on October 19, 1939. Phil and Helen had three children; two sons, and one daughter. During these years, Helen taught piano, directed choirs, and was active in community and educational projects. Phil's first church was in Erie, Michigan, just ten miles north of Toledo, Ohio, but also served churches in Detroit, Michigan; Astoria, Oregon; St. Paul, Minnesota; Dubuque, Iowa; and then back to Toledo, Ohio where they lived 19 years until retirement. In 1960, Helen took on substitute teaching, as well as, took classes at the University of Toledo to become certified in Ohio. She taught junior high music for ten years, and then headed a teaching program for a Baldwin Piano and Organ Dealer. In 1977, she and Phil retired to Estes Park, Colorado, where she continued teaching piano, became the Musical Director for the Fine Arts Guild, directing two Broadway Revues- "Hello Dolly" and "The King and I". Helen also directed two community choruses which they combined to put on a community concert for Mother's Day and Christmas. Helen also served as organist at Westview Presbyterian Church in Longmont, Colorado. In 1978, she was initiated into P.E.O., Chapter GJ, in Colorado. In 1994, she made her final home in Cottonwood, and she demitted to Chapter I, in Arizona. She was a loyal member and supporter of P. E. O. and served two years as President of this organization, dedicated to educating and helping women around the world. Since residing in Cottonwood, she directed the choir at the Verde Valley Presbyterian Church, and became the organist at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Clarkdale, from which she retired in 2004. Helen is preceded in death by her husband, Philip, who passed away April 30, 2000. She leaves behind her three children, James Howard Lewis with his wife Julie, Bethlyn Lewis Wright with her husband David, and Timothy Robert Lewis with his wife Grace; four granddaughters, Kristen Lewis Dunder with her husband Marne, Lisa Lewis, Jennifer Lewis-McLeod, and Emily Lewis; and three step-grandsons, Christopher Holmes, Tim Holms, and Ben Holmes. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday evening, February 24, 2007 at 7:00pm, at the Verde Valley Presbyterian Church, 1500 E. Hombre Drive, in Cottonwood. Memorial donations, made in Helen's name can be sent to: Arizona State Chapter P.E.O.-Projects, C/O Chapter I, P.O. Box 456, Clarkdale, AZ 86324 or to the Verde Valley Presbyterian Church 1500 E. Hombre Drive, Cottonwood, AZ 86326. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com