's Obituary
A.J. Helsley, son of Berna Herold and Eunice (Campbell) Helsley, was born January 16, 1928, in Hartville, Missouri. He departed this life Thursday, July 19, 2007, in St. John’s Regional Health Center, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of seventy-nine years, six months, and three days. On May 5, 1952 he was united in marriage to Wanda June McClanahan and together they have spent the last fifty-five years. He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother, Marie Helsley; two brothers-in-law, Walter Kopp and Larry Bledsoe; a sister-in-law, Beverly Helsley. A.J. is survived by his wife, Wanda, of the home; a daughter, Debbie Davis, of Hartville, Missouri; two sons, Jeff Helsley, and his wife, Bernice, of Hartville, Missouri, and Calvin Helsley, of Mansfield, Missouri; four grandchildren, Brooke Davis, and her fiancé, Dustin Lyle, Katie Wynn, and her husband, Ryan, Sarah Helsley, and Brendon Helsley; a great-granddaughter, Taijha Davis; four sisters, Eunice Kopp, of St. Louis, Missouri, Juanda Prelle, of Gravette, Arkansas, Jennie Helsley, and Bernadette Bledsoe, both of Hartville, Missouri; a brother, Bruce Helsley, of Hartville, Missouri; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends. He was born and raised in Hartville and was drafted into the United States Army during his senior year. The Army allowed him to graduate with his Class of 1947. Then five years later he was drafted again into the Army in 1952 to serve in Korea. After being honorably discharged, he moved to Wichita, Kansas, where he worked as a building inspector. He and his family then returned to Hartville in 1960, where he became an insurance agent for MFA Insurance, which is now Shelter Insurance, and retired to the farm in 1981. A.J. had made his profession of faith in Christ and attended the Free Will Baptist Church of Hartville. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #45, VFW #3135, a former Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce member. He centered his life on his family and loved watching his grandchildren play ball. He was a very civic minded person and helped get the St. John’s Mobile Medical Unit and factory building in Hartville. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, hunting and refinishing his 1927 McCormick-Deering antique tractor, given to him by his sister, Bernadette. He and Wanda also enjoyed snow-birding in Texas, where they made many friends. A.J. was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories he has created for his family and friends. Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, July 22, 2007, in the Free Will Baptist Church, Hartville. Burial will be in the Steele Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until service time. Memorials to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and the American Diabetes Association may be made through the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Hartville, Missouri.
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