Helen Ruth Willey shook off her earthen vessel and flew into the open arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at her home in Lewiston, at age 91. Mom had hip surgery and while at Sacred Heart Medical Center, she contracted a severe infection, which ultimately led to her passing.
Helen was born on June 5, 1932, in Mount Ida, Ark., the daughter of William Ernest Kilby and Dovie Pearl Kilby (Qualls). Helen attended Hot Springs High School until she was 16. She then met and fell in love with a yankee from Maine. She married Larry Willey on June 12, 1949, seven days after her 17th birthday. She graduated from Bossier City High School in Louisiana. They went on to have two daughters, Laurie Jo and Elizabeth; and one son, David.
How do you adequately find the words to capture the perfection God put into the making of our mother? Simply, you cannot, so I will attempt to give you a glimpse of her. She would often tell the story of how she came home from elementary school in Story, Ark., to discover no one was home. Her neighbor told her that her dad said to tell her they had moved to Hot Springs, Ark., and to have the mailman take her to her new home. She also would tell us the reason she never wanted a dog for a pet is because her dad sold her dog, “Buster,” which had a devastating affect on her as a young child.
Mom would also tell how she told her mom she could never marry a “Yankee.” Obviously, God had already planned her future as she did marry that Yankee and had almost 56 wonderful years with our father, until he passed in 2004.
It was tough living in Arkansas with dad making less than a dollar a day delivering cookies. Dad found a good job in Sacramento, Calif. Mom started working for the school system as a baker. She became a premier baker and was known for her many pastries, especially her Christmas tea rings. She worked for almost 29 years before retiring.
Mom and dad were devoted Pentecostal Christians and lived their lives as dictated by the Holy Bible. She raised her children to have a relationship with her Lord and Savior, which they passed on to their own children. She was a true witness of the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. She had a beautiful voice and would often sing duets with people at church. She truly worshiped God in her singing and you felt the anointing when she sang. She was also the Sunday school superintendent at Glad Tidings Assembly of God church in Sacramento.
When she was 12 years old and living in Arkansas, the junior boys class was too rowdy for most teachers. Mom was asked if she would teach them. They could not understand how mom could control the boys at her young age. Her secret: She told the boys if they behaved, she would tell them a ghost story after the Sunday school lesson. She has always known how to control boys.
In 1988, her son asked her and our father to sell their home in Sacramento and move in with them in a house he was building in Placerville, Calif. Mom lived with her son from then on.
In 2015, her son moved to the great state of Idaho and mom followed him. At first, she was not too sure about selling the home we built, but once she got to Lewiston, she fell in love with the town. We found a great church where she made many friends.
Mom was the epitome of how the Bible describes a wife in Proverbs 31:10, “Who can finds a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” And as stated in verse 38, “Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” In closing, our mother was a Godly woman, a dedicated and loving wife, a caring and attentive mother, and most important, she was a witness of the salvation of Jesus Christ. We will miss her but her children know for a certain, they will rejoin her one day in our heavenly home.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five brothers: Raz, Loyd, Allen, Vernon, and James Kilby, and sister Ruby Jane Ketzer.
She is survived by her three children: Laurie Jo (Larry) of Aurora, Colo., David (Sandi) of Lewiston, and Elizabeth (Jack) of Rescue, Calif.; a brother Jimmy (Jean) of Hot Springs, six grandchildren: Charlene, Sheena, Jacob (Jamie), Sarah, Joseph and Dovie; seven great-grandchildren: Alexis, Jack, Isaac, Luke, Alina, Kelsey and Micah. She is also survived by her “self-adopted” children, John and Marie Sanchez, and Elizabeth’s adopted granddaughter Faith, along with many nephews, nieces and close church family friends. The family sincerely appreciates the love, compassion and care shown to our mother, since her arrival in Idaho, and especially during mom’s final week, by Lois Williams and Linda Freeman. They have become part of mom’s family. The family also wants to acknowledge the conscientiousness and comfort St. Joseph Family Hospice, Lewiston, provided to our mother during her last days, particularly the compassion and care given by Amanda and Jenny.
Mom loved God’s little children and believed in witnessing to others of God’s love. Because of this love, the family requests donations be made to Eden’s Song Ministry (edenssong.org) and Life Choices Clinic (lifechoicesclinic.info), both in Lewiston, in lieu of flowers.
A memorial service and celebration of life will occur in the near future and will be officiated by the Rev. Linda Freeman.
John 14:3: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Offer Condolences
Our Family, Serving Yours
✔ Family Owned since 1898
✔ Professional, Licensed Staff
✔ Burial or Cremation Services
✔ Pre-Arranged Funeral Plans
✔ Comfortable Facility
Serving the LC Valley Since 1898
920 21st Avenue