Helen Marie Dennis

Helen Marie (Horner) Dennis of Nocona passed away May 13, 2016 at the age of 89. Mrs. Dennis was born to Mark and Lillie (Cook) Horner on January 1st, 1927. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Wayne Dennis, her parents Mark and Lillie Horner, her infant sister Shirley Jean Horner, her sister Wilma Sullivan, and her daughter-in-law Kathy Dennis. Helen is survived by her son Doug and wife Jenny Dennis of Lindsay; son Don and wife Lisa Dennis of Sanger; daughter Sandra and husband Bill Spencer of Nocona; six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Helen grew up in the Cottonwood community near Saint Jo. Her mother Lillie passed away when Helen was four years old, so Helen and her father went to live with her grandparents. Living with her grandparents, Helen had a good life, but it also meant hard work. Helen grew up picking cotton for the family as well as helping with household chores. Helen went to school in Cottonwood for several years, then in Bonita, before graduating from Saint Jo High School. After graduation, Helen moved into Nocona, where she worked at the drug store soda fountain. There she met Wayne Dennis. The two married on August 5, 1945 in Muenster at the Baptist church. Throughout her life, Helen was a homemaker as well as working outside the home. After the drug store, she worked at Lipscomb's Department store, then at Texas Togs Western Wear (owned by Miss Enid Justin). Later she worked for Action Line, a factory that made uniforms. In the early 1970s, Helen and family bought the Nocona Independent Lumber Company, which she helped work and run for several years. After the lumberyard, Helen worked at Gibbs' drug store in Nocona in the soda fountain and then at the gift counter in front, where she worked until her health declined in 2010. Helen knew the value of hard work, and she knew the value of family. She loved her children and grandchildren, and they certainly loved her and will miss her deeply. Helen's funeral was Sunday, May 15 at Scott-Morris Funeral Home chapel with Donald Cheshier officiating.