Helen V Tandy

Helen Virginia Tandy, 86, a long-time school teacher in Independence, Missouri, who also taught at her hometown of Willow Springs, Missouri, died Sunday, January 19 at the Baptist Home in Independence after a lengthy illness.

Helen was born on October 12, 1938, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She graduated from Willow Springs High School in 1956. She attended Southwest Baptist College for two years in Bolivar and then in 1960, she graduated from what was then Southwest Missouri State College, with a degree in secondary education. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

In the early 1960s, she taught English and art in her hometown of Willow Springs, Missouri. She then accepted a position in Independence Schools, where she spent the next 30 years teaching at both William Chrisman Junior and Senior high schools.

During her teaching years, she gave much more back to her students by leading pep squads and girls' cheerleading teams. She enjoyed painting, reading, boating, water skiing and spending time with friends and family. Her life-long idol was actor James Dean, and she had an extensive collection about him. She loved the KC Chiefs and Royals and attended numerous games. She loved animals and she cared for two kitties much of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Captain John A. and Eileen Tandy, and her brother, William Reece Tandy (both men retired members of the Highway Patrol). Survivors are her brother, John A. Tandy Jr. and his wife, Cynthia from Jefferson City, Missouri, sister-in- law Rebecca Tandy of Springfield and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions and expressions of sympathy may be made by supporting your favorite animal rescue or shelter in Helen’s honor.

Her visitation service will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. with a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. at the Newcomer’s Noland Road Chapel, 509 S. Noland Road, Independence, Missouri. Her burial will follow at a later date for close friends and family at Woodlawn Cemetery in a plot provided by her beloved friends,

the Armin Schannuth family.