Helen G. Sitterley

Helen G. Sitterley, 90 formerly of Lake Montezuma died Monday night December 18, 2006 in her Cornville home among her children, after a brief convalescence. Helen was born in Steubenville, Ohio on December 7, 1916, where she also grew up. After graduating from High School, Helen enrolled in Kent State University where she received her BA in primary education. She taught until Pearl Harbor when she was personally incited to join the US Army and serve her country being trained as a Physical Therapist. As a Sergeant and while in training at Mayo\u0027s in Rochester, MN she met the love of her life, Capt. Jay L. Sitterley, a physician. After they married, they spent their first years at the VA hospital in San Fernando Valley, CA and then Wichita, KS. Helen and Jay moved with their children to Flagstaff, AZ in 1952 where, at that time, \u0027there were only 2 paved streets and 1 stop light\u0027. It was at NAU , then ASC in Flagstaff, where Helen received her Masters degree in Education while raising 3 children. Helen returned to the classroom at Witzel school, when her youngest child was starting high school. Helen loved being a teacher. After her and Jay\u0027s subsequent retirement, they moved to Lake Montezuma, where they could golf \u0027year \u0027round\u0027. After Jay\u0027s death in 1984, Helen revived and expanded her lifelong passion for art and became competent in several mediums, her latest passion being China painting. Her days became full between Lake Montezuma Civic Club, Historical Society trips, personal travel, art seminars and lessons being given in her own garage. At the age of 86, Helen was still operating daily 2 kilns in her garage for \u0027firing\u0027 her china creations. She will be missed by several friends, colleagues and her family, including her sister, Corinne Beard, MaryLou (Pratley) Neal, her niece Cyndy (Schmidt) Lowry (Dave), and several other nephews, and nieces, her children, Warren Jay, John Wayne and Mary Patricia. She was preceded in death by her brother, Albert Schmidt, Father, Mother, sister Betty Clark, and her beloved husband Jay Leland. Memorial services will be held at Wescott Funeral Home on Friday, December 22, 2006 at 3:00pm. Memorial donations made in her name Can be made to the NAU education department. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com