Elaine T. Helton

Elaine was a devout Catholic throughout her life and was admired by everyone who knew her. The eldest of four, she grew to become an elegant, demure, and graceful lady who always put others first. Her quiet strength and contemplative nature were offset by her great sense of humor.

She had a long distinguished career that began in Cincinnati with a hospitality employment union and ended over 60 years later in Houston with Exxon.

Elaine loved fashion and it showed. She didn’t have to go on buying trips to Milan to look like she stepped out of a page in Vogue – she had refined taste and naturally always dressed to perfection. She also loved the cultural arts, especially the Ballet and Opera and taught her children to appreciate fine music and performances.

She raised two boys and three girls who ate their fair share of her delicious meatloaf and mashed potatoes, but even after working all day, she found joy in baking soufflé or lasagna from scratch. After she retired, her culinary talent and charitable spirit led her to manage a service through her parish, that delivered her homemade meals to those in need.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Jack Helton, her parents, Henrietta (Rielage) and Ernest K. Hendrick, her sisters, Adel Wolf and Carol Gruppi (Bruno), and her brother, Mel Hendrick (Joan). She is survived by her children Barry John Helton (Linda Colwell), Deborah Ann Macbeth (Donald), Pamela Joan Blaker (David), Jeffrey Paul Helton (Deborah), Heidi Ann Rockecharlie (Nicholas), and grandchildren, Richard Charles Wenzel (Kelly), Erica Alicia Fisher, Stephanie Nicole McClanahan, (Jason), and children Lila Kate and Deacon Kyle, Ashley Michele Fuller, (Brent) and children Leighton Carly, Liam Channing, Link Carson, and Levi Cole, Robert Andrew Palculict (Mary) and daughter Gwyneth Madeline, Joseph Reid O’Leary (Haleigh) and daughter Kiley Rose, David Creighton Rockecharlie (Paige) and daughters Eva Jules and Daphne Celeste, Patrick Ryan Rockecharlie, Kevin Marshall Rockecharlie (Kellye) and children John Marshall and Rachel Katherine, and numerous nieces and nephews.