Helen Louise Perkins Brown, 94, of Port Lavaca, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Victoria. She was born in Garwood, Texas to Ollie and Alice Laake Perkins on October 22, 1929. Helen’s father was a farmer and the family moved quite often. She started her school career in 1935 at age 5 attending Garwood Public School in Columbus ISD. She continued at Nada ISD for 2 years, skipping the 7th grade, and completing grades 8th – 11th grades in Garwood ISD before graduating in 1946 from El Campo High School. After graduation Helen traveled from her home near Gobbler Creek to work at Appling Drug Store in El Campo, Texas. After the 3 days, she decided that it was not “her kind of job.” She applied to Durham Business College in Houston, Texas, and completed the course in 6 months with typing, bookkeeping and shorthand skills. Helen was an accomplished wife, homemaker, and secretary. Beginning in 1947 and again in late 1954 she worked as a Legal Secretary for the Law Office of George P. Willis in El Campo, Texas, 1950 as a Secretary for Willis L. Cotton, Independent Oil Operator, 1951 at the Columbus Bottling Co. (soft drinks) and Columbus Diaper Service in Columbus, Georgia, 1954 as a Production Clerk for Argo Oil Co., in Alice, Texas, and in 1961, Helen began her career at First Presbyterian Church in Port Lavaca, which she worked for 19 years until her retirement. Helen was a 62-year member of First Presbyterian Church in Port Lavaca and was presented with her “50-year” pin in 2012.
Helen was very active in many organizations. She was part of the Desk and Derrek Club in Alice, Texas, the V.F.W. Auxiliary in Alice and Port Lavaca, Texas, Order of the Eastern Star, Port Lavaca where she and her husband served as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron, Order of the Rainbow Girls, Port Lavaca, Texas, in which she served as Mother Advisor for 7 years, Girl Scouts of America as a Brownie Troop Leader/Mother, Calhoun County Quilt Guild, Country and Western Dance Club and the Polka and Waltz Club, DaCosta, Texas.
Helen enjoyed many hobbies: Dominoes, at the Heritage Center on Thursdays, which was her priority; Hand work, which included Sewing, Quilting, Crochet, Knitting, and Embroidery; Ceramics and Crafts, which she learned while working part-time at Harabis Bookkeeping Service. She always had a vegetable garden, canned jellies from her grape vines, baked breads, made butter and sauerkraut in a crock and loved to fish.
Helen and her husband of 63 years, J.C. Brown, Jr., enjoyed dancing. One of their favorite dance selections was “The Orange Blossom Special.” She met J.C. at a dance in Alice, Texas, where she was selling tickets at the door. Two weeks later, he called her to ask for a date, and two weeks after that, they purchased wedding rings. Both rings were a perfect fit. At 31 years of age, they were married before a Justice of the Peace in Laredo, Texas, on October 26, 1960.
Helen’s family thinks that the most enjoyment came from traveling because “He liked to go places.” Helen and J.C. would leave after the July 4th holiday and stay out on the road, fishing in the mountains ‘til the first snow fell.
Helen is survived by her daughter; Cynthia Brown Clark and her husband Mike of Victoria, Texas, step-son; Jimmy King and his wife Becky of Cleburne, Texas, brother; Gene A. Perkins and his wife Ruth of Brenham, Texas, grandchildren; Christopher Clark and his wife Sarah, Stephen Clark and his wife Caitlyn, Casey King, Ginny King Jaeger and her husband Andrew, and Paul Rossi King, great-grandchildren; Adam Clark, Tycho Clark, Artemis Clark, Julia Jaeger, Jack Jaeger, Sally Jaeger, Clark Jaeger, Ben Folbre, and Madison Folbre, and her beloved cat; “Gato.”
Visitation will be held on Monday, June 3, 2024, from 1-2 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Port Lavaca, followed by Funeral Service at 2 pm, with interment immediately following at Port Lavaca Cemetery.
Pallbearers; Christopher Clark, Stephen Clark, David Brown, Randy Brown, Scooter Keonig and Dale Keonig.
It is the family’s wish that donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church or Hospice of South Texas in lieu of flowers.
Words of comfort, condolences, and fond memories may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com.
