Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Helen Sheley passed away unexpectedly in her home, Wednesday, September 1, 2010. She was born in Greenville January 9, 1923 to Howard Sanders and Ruth Green Sanders. She graduated from Greenville High School in 1940 where she was a member of Gussie Nell Davis’ Flaming Flashes and then attended East Texas State Teachers College, now known as Texas A&M University- Commerce.
In 1943, she married Lloyd Deaton and to their union a daughter, Dionne, was born. She married Matt Sheley, longtime publisher of the Greenville Herald Banner, in 1969. He preceded her in death in 1987.
Helen is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Dionne and Bob Green of Austin, grandson Clint Thompson and his wife Tiia and their children, Adaline and Colton of Houston. Her life was also enriched by her extended family, Kyle Green and his sons, Colby, Carson, and Clay of Dallas and Kristen and Nick Mitrakis and their daughter, Katie, of Connecticut. She is also survived by Mary Powell, her first cousin, and Ken Starrett, her brother-in-law.
In her 87 years as a Greenville resident she participated in all aspects of the community. She was a member of Kavanaugh United Methodist Church and served on the Board of Directors for the Concert and Symphony Series for several years. She was also a member of the Jr. Pallas Club, Rejebian Book Club, her bridge club and two Shanghai clubs. She was preceded in death by her husband, Matt Sheley, parents, Howard and Ruth Sanders, stepmother, Oline Sanders Nickens, brother, Terry Sanders, and sister, Donna Starrett.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Coker-Mathews Funeral Home chapel with Reverend Ann Barton officiating. Burial will be in Memoryland Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Clint Thompson, Kyle Green , Mark Cole, Gary Cole, Joe Leonard and John Overton with Murray Pickens as honorary pallbearer.
Family request memorials be made to Kavanaugh United Methodist Church, 2516 Park St., Greenville, TX 75401.
