Helen Murin Kiser

Helen M. Kiser died peacefully in Lakeway, Texas on May 24, 2021, at the age of 96, after complications from a fall and congestive heart failure. She was born in Elkhorn, West Virginia, on December 18, 1924, the sixth child of Fedor “Frank” Uram Murin and Julia Korba Murin, both of whom were immigrants from the Carpathian Mountain region of what is modern day Slovakia.

Helen attended public schools, graduating as Salutatorian of the Elkhorn High School Class of 1942. While her parents moved to Binghamton, New York, Helen decided to stay in West Virginia to attend Concord College. Responding to a shortage of teachers during World War II, Helen began teaching at age 19 at the Bartley Elementary School in her home county, finishing college via summer sessions.

After the war, she was introduced to Raymond Kiser, an Army veteran of the war in the Pacific, who had returned home to manage the local Kroger’s supermarket. After three years of dating and planning, they were married, August 11, 1949, at St. Michael’s Greek Catholic Church in Binghamton, New York, and settled in Welch, West Virginia with new job assignments. They welcomed the birth of a son, Ray, in 1951, and became members of the First Methodist Church, where they would provide many years of service, including her long tenure as director of the children’s choir and member of the Chancel Choir.

After teaching fifth grade at Welch Elementary School for 11 years, Helen accepted a position teaching 7th and 8th grade sciences at Welch Junior High School. Again taking advantage of summer sessions, she completed a Master’s Degree at West Virginia University in 1963, and later would do additional graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati.

In Welch, in addition to her very active participation in school activities and church leadership, she was active in many civic organizations, including the McDowell Women’s Club, the Chaminade (music) Club, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Women Teachers. She was so highly regarded by her peers that she was elected for a term as state President of West Virginia Delta Kappa Gamma, and she would continue to serve on national committees for the organization over several decades.

After 43 consecutive years of teaching in the McDowell County school system, she retired in 1987 at the age of 62, one year after the death of her husband. In retirement she stayed very active in the church and the community, took advantage of her freedom to travel to all parts of the world, and loved being a full-time grandmother. In 2013, she moved to Austin, Texas to be near her son’s family.

She is remembered not only as a gifted teacher and organizational leader, a wonderful wife and mother, but as a bright and spirited soul who was quick to make friends by being a great and entertaining friend to others. Her deep Christian devotion was formed as she grew up in the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church. In her adult life alongside her husband, she became a dedicated United Methodist, and stayed faithful in her contributions to Christian ministry until her death.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, Raymond E. Kiser. She is survived by her son, Rev. Raymond D. Kiser and his wife Stacy West Kiser; three grandchildren, Chris, Sarah, and Grace, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Her family is very grateful to the staffs of Brookdale Lohman’s Crossing, the skilled nursing unit of Brookdale Lakeway, the skilled nursing staff of the Wesleyan in Georgetown, and the staff of Baylor Scott & White Hospital of Lakeway for their care for Helen this year.

There are no immediate plans for a memorial service, but later this year, at a time yet to be determined, her ashes will be entombed following a brief memorial celebration at the Woodlawn Mausoleum Chapel in Bluewell, West Virginia. Memorial gifts may be sent to any of the churches where she was active: First United Methodist Church of Welch, WV; Lake Travis United Methodist Church, or Northwest Hills United Methodist Church of Austin, TX.