You nailed it, John. I'm surprised you are the only one to mention that fact!
Helen had such a sophistication about her that she just oozed cool. She was always a snappy dresser and shabby chic all in the same outfit. After college, maybe late 80's, I remember running into her in the middle of nowhere. One of my roommates at FSU, Paul Schlichte, had a family lake house on Crooked Lake in Bapson Park, FL. Now Bapson Park is not a huge metropolis, it's located between Lake Wales and Frostproof and surrounded by a ton of orange groves. Not the likely setting for the casual run in with a former Bay High classmate. There is one grocery store and gas station that everybody has to go to get anything. One sunny Saturday morning, Paul and I were there to fill up the boat with gas and to grab some staples for the day of skiing, beer and ice. And as we are heading out to load up the boat, I hear, "Ricky Johnston, I see you haven't changed one bit, do you have enough beer?" And I turn around and I'm staring at Helen freakin Parker out in the middle of nowhere Bapson Park. She tells me she's married and lives on the other side of the lake from Paul. Says she writing a book and doing well. We tried to get her to go skiing but she said she had friends coming over and needed some bottles of wine. She gave me a hug and she was on her way... God bless you, Helen!
I knew Helen throughout my life. She was at my 1 year old birthday party on to when I did not have birthday parties. Her dad and mine were good friends.
She was always gracious, always friendly. I can remember only the best about Helen. As an adult, I wish I had had the opportunity to reconnect.
I was so very sorry to hear of her death. She is missed.
I knew Helen for many years through both school and First United Methodist Church. We were roomies on some of those wonderful choir trips. Helen was kind, sweet, creative, talented. Beautiful - inside and out. I am sorry we lost touch in our adult years and so wish she could be with us this weekend.
I knew and adored Helen during high school, college, and beyond! Helen was my big sister for Kappa Delta Sorority at University of Florida--she was such a caring, warm, and fun loving individual. You are missed!
John Bynum
The sweetest woman I've ever known
Richard (Rick) Johnston
You nailed it, John. I'm surprised you are the only one to mention that fact!
Helen had such a sophistication about her that she just oozed cool. She was always a snappy dresser and shabby chic all in the same outfit. After college, maybe late 80's, I remember running into her in the middle of nowhere. One of my roommates at FSU, Paul Schlichte, had a family lake house on Crooked Lake in Bapson Park, FL. Now Bapson Park is not a huge metropolis, it's located between Lake Wales and Frostproof and surrounded by a ton of orange groves. Not the likely setting for the casual run in with a former Bay High classmate. There is one grocery store and gas station that everybody has to go to get anything. One sunny Saturday morning, Paul and I were there to fill up the boat with gas and to grab some staples for the day of skiing, beer and ice. And as we are heading out to load up the boat, I hear, "Ricky Johnston, I see you haven't changed one bit, do you have enough beer?" And I turn around and I'm staring at Helen freakin Parker out in the middle of nowhere Bapson Park. She tells me she's married and lives on the other side of the lake from Paul. Says she writing a book and doing well. We tried to get her to go skiing but she said she had friends coming over and needed some bottles of wine. She gave me a hug and she was on her way... God bless you, Helen!
Martha Adams (McGrane)
I knew Helen throughout my life. She was at my 1 year old birthday party on to when I did not have birthday parties. Her dad and mine were good friends.
She was always gracious, always friendly. I can remember only the best about Helen. As an adult, I wish I had had the opportunity to reconnect.
I was so very sorry to hear of her death. She is missed.
Kathy Williams (Mangieri)
I knew Helen for many years through both school and First United Methodist Church. We were roomies on some of those wonderful choir trips. Helen was kind, sweet, creative, talented. Beautiful - inside and out. I am sorry we lost touch in our adult years and so wish she could be with us this weekend.
Kathleen Hemphill (Fontaine)
I knew and adored Helen during high school, college, and beyond! Helen was my big sister for Kappa Delta Sorority at University of Florida--she was such a caring, warm, and fun loving individual. You are missed!
Love in AOT,
Kathy