Helen Bernice (Egner) Mays of Orient, previously of Gahanna, passed away on Monday, April 24, 2017, at the age of 103 years, 1 month, and 4 days.
She was born on Friday, March 20, 1914, in Goodman, Missouri, raised in Montana, and graduated from Robert High School in 1933.
Helen moved to Columbus at the age of twenty-five25. She was a farm girl, a cook, hair dresser, bookkeeper, wife, mother, gardener and a McDonald’s girl until she retired from the Gahanna store after serving for 12 years.
Helen was a woman of honor.
She is survived by her four children, Richard Smith of Columbus, Mrs. Oscar (Betty) Colburn of Orient, Ralph Smith of Guamuchil, Mexico, and Emerson W. Mays Jr. of Croton; two grandchildren whom she raised, Nickolas Brandon Smith of Westerville and Mrs. Vincent (Anita) D’Andrea of Westerville; as well as 19 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Emmet Caulder and May Belle (Wimpey) Egner of Danville, Washington. She is also preceded in death by her husbands, Emerson “Doc” Woodrow Mays and Ballard Spencer Smith, both of Columbus; as well as her three siblings, Bernard W. Egner of Republic, Washington, Glenn Harold Egner of Kettle Falls, Washington, and Hazel Vangela Wachsmuth of Columbus; and her great-granddaughter, Deborah Jean Ratliff of Orient.
To honor our mother’s request, we ask that you do not send flowers. You were the flowers and the joy in her life.
There will be no viewing, but a graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Mifflin Cemetery, Gahanna, where she will be laid to rest next to her late husband, Emerson. Pastor John Colburn will officiate.
The family would like to thank Mount Carmel Hospice for their help and all of our family and friends for their unending support. To all of her grandchildren, big and small, a special thank you for showing our mother such boundless love.
To share memories and condolences, please visit www.schoedinger.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
