HELEN MAXINE MCGAHUEY
Helen Maxine McGahuey, daughter of Omer “Casey” and Jenny (Kinder) Holtzman, was born May 14, 1924 in Ringgold County, IA. Helen always lived in Ringgold County and mostly in Mount Ayr. She attended Mount Ayr Community School and graduated from Mount Ayr High School.
On June 25, 1941, she was united in marriage to Charles Lorne McGahuey at Albany, MO. To this marriage was born two children: Judith Ann and Barry L.
Helen was a loving wife and mother. After the children were in school, Helen took dietitian classes and was a dietitian at the Ringgold County Hospital. She would also work several years at Clearview Home as a Nurses Aid.
Helen will be remembered for her quick wit and feisty personality. She enjoyed going to the jam sessions that Charles performed at. Helen was a great cook and her pies, homemade noodles and other dishes were savored and enjoyed by all. Helen was very talented as a quilter and she enjoyed embroidering. She was able to create quilts and embroider until her health had recently began to decline. Helen had a green thumb and she loved her flowers. In her later years, she kept a Christmas Cactus that was big, beautiful and full of blooms. She would raise a big garden every year and did a lot of canning. Her cat, Suzy, was precious to her and she loved having her as a pet.
In July 2017, Helen moved into Summit House in Britt, Iowa to be closer to Barry and Gretchen. She passed away on December 19, 2018 at Westview Care Center in Britt. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles, on March 5, 2010; daughter, Judith Ann Sterling, on October 25, 2015 and son-in-law, Robert “Woody” Sterling; all of her siblings which include Dale Holtzman, Bob Holtzman, Elmer Holtzman, Irene Feuring, Bernice McCoy, Nina Powell, Donna Drake, Linda Sickels, Lois Johnson and two in infancy.
Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Barry McGahuey, wife, Gretchen, of Wesley, IA; grandchildren, Ian McGahuey, wife, Angelina, of Twentynine Palms, CA and Megan Parker and husband, Tommy, of Chapel Hill, NC; great grandchildren, Tyler McGahuey, Wyatt, Olivia, and Colby Parker; step-great grandchildren, Marcus and Reece; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 26 at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with Pastor Bill Armstrong officiating. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. in the Elk Chapel Cemetery, after the luncheon at the American Legion. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 26. A memorial fund has been established for the Animal Rescue League. Online condolences may be left at www.armstrongfh.com.
