Helen Stollings Tyree

She is survived by her devoted husband of 73 years, Jack M. Tyree; sister Virginia Chapman of Barboursville, W. Va.; son Milton Tyree and daughter-in-law Vicky Tingle Tyree of Louisville; daughter Helen Anders and son-in-law John Anders of Austin, Texas; granddaughters Kaylyn Tyree of Louisville, Tyree Schwager (Shawn) of Arlington, Texas and Miranda Bryant of Frisco, Texas; great-grandchildren Aiden Andrews, Connor Schwager and Callie Schwager; and many nieces and nephews.

Born in Huntington, W. Va., Helen lived most of her adult life in Blacksburg, Va. before moving with her husband to Louisville in 2000. She was an honors graduate of Barboursville High School and of Huntington Business College. During World War II, while her husband was overseas with the U.S. Army, Helen worked tirelessly for Hagen-Ratcliff grocery wholesaler, the Railroad Retirement Board and the Chamber of Commerce, all of Huntington, W. Va. After the war, she worked in the student affairs office of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., earning her “P.H.T.” – putting her husband through.

A consummate homemaker and loving mother, Helen devoted her life to her family and to helping others in her community. Growing up in a family of eight children, she learned at an early age about accepting responsibility and homemaking. Friends say that she worked more at the church – developing women’s programs, preparing meals, engaging other women in service programs -- than at home before the children were born. She served as a volunteer 4-H leader in West Virginia and, later in Virginia, where she also served as a Girl Scout Leaders and member of the PEO women’s service club. In Blacksburg, she helped to organize the first faculty women’s club, and she enjoyed organizing and playing contract bridge.

In recent years, she was a member of the Springdale Presbyterian Church in Louisville.

Caring for and loving her children, grandchildren and husband was always her priority, and at this she excelled beyond measure.

Funeral services will be at Springdale Presbyterian Church, 7812 Brownsboro Road, at 1 p.m. Wednesday, preceded by visitation at the church at noon, with interment at Louisville Memorial Gardens East immediately after the service.