Helen Louise (Followwill) Welsh, 97, of Moberly, Missouri passed away peacefully at her home early Sunday morning, September 5, 2021.
The daughter of Joseph Dudley and Glatha Dale (May) Followwill, she was born on November 27, 1923 in rural Queen City, Missouri. As a child, Helen lived in Des Moines, Iowa where her father was employed at a large sawmill. The family returned to Missouri and Helen began attending school in Worthington, Missouri. They later moved to a small house across the road from Jimtown School where Helen continued her education and met her future husband and love of her life, Wallace Welsh. She attended high school in Glenwood, Missouri and graduated as salutatorian of the class of 1941.
Helen was united in marriage to Wallace Leon Welsh on November 1, 1942. To this union four children were born, Joseph Leon, James Dale, Robert Lavern and Cathy Louise. At the conclusion of WWII, Helen and Wallace moved to Ottumwa, Iowa where Wallace was employed at the Morrell Meatpacking plant. In 1947, they purchased a farm south of Glenwood, Missouri. Helen moved to Lancaster, Missouri in l988. In 2019, she moved to Moberly, Missouri to be near her son and daughter.
Helen worked ten years as a teacher’s aid and secretary for the Schuyler County School System, one year as a Certified Nurses Aid at the Schuyler County Nursing Home in Queen City, Missouri and 24 years as clerk for the Schuyler County Soil and Water Conservation District in Lancaster, Missouri. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Moberly, Missouri.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Dud and Glatha Followwill; her husband of 38 years, Wallace Welsh and her eldest son Joe Welsh. She is survived by her children, Jim Welsh and wife, Nancy of Vero Beach, Florida, Bob Welsh and wife, Chris of Moberly, Missouri, Cathy Fitzwater and husband, Terry of Clifton Hill, Missouri and daughter-in-law, Susan Welsh of The Villages, Florida; grandchildren, Melissa Jo King (Bill) Westmoreland, Tennessee, Kelley Ann Wierzbicki (Dennis) Allendale, New Jersey, Joseph Leon, Jr. of Nokesville, Virginia, Jennifer Aleen Warren (Gary) Excello, Missouri, Angela Marie Carson (Jeff) of Columbia, Missouri, Mandy Lyn Massey (Lance) of Huntsville, Missouri, Elizabeth Louise Sowers (Brady) of Cairo, Missouri, Justin Wallace Fitzwater of Manhattan Beach, California, Julia Renee Kimmons (Jason) of Moberly, Missouri, Mallory Ann Downing (Brandon) of Hunstville, Missouri; great grandchildren, Susan Brooke Horton, Jamie Lee Winters (Blake), Andrew Thomas Henton, Lydia Grace King, Elijah Mark Woody, Kathryn Nicole Bell (David), Daniel Foley Rehain, Patrick Jeffrey Rehain, Caelainn Bryn Welsh, Jodie Corrinne Welsh, Ashlynn Grace Warren, Austin Grant Warren, Addisyn Marie Warren, Annistyn Hope Warren, Micah Jeffrey Carson, Avery Joy Carson, Ella Marie Carson, Leah McKinley Carson, Kaden Lewis Massey, Quinn Michael Massey, Kiyah Elizabeth Massey, Emmilee Beth Sowers, Allyssa Grace Downing, Kendra Brooke Downing, Brody Vincent Kimmons and Asher John Kimmons; great great grandchildren, Dathen Noah Horton, Carter Lewis Horton, Keegan Riley Horton, Everett William Winters, Abel Thomas Henton, Alexander David Bell and Summer Ann Bell.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, Missouri with Reverend Brian Veal of the Moberly First Baptist Church in Moberly, Missouri officiating. Music will be provided by Donna Welte, pianist and Bob Welsh and Susan Welsh, soloists. Special selections will be “Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know” and “It’s True”. Pallbearers will be Jody Welsh, Lance Massey, Brandon Downing, Brady Sowers, Jason Kimmons and Gary Warren. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri. Memorials have been established for Bethel Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by logging on to normanfh.com. Burial will be in the Bethel Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri.