Helen Mae Chappell (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Helen Mae Chappell (Bacca) 95 of Bolivar, MO passed away, Monday, April 14, 2025 at her home. Born June 7, 1929 in Lathrop, Missouri to Earl and Eva Vickers. The family moved to Humansville when Helen was 8 months old. Helen attended Alder Baptist Church as a child with her mother. When she was 14 years old, she left home and moved in with Bysor and Maxine Shelenhamer and family. While living with the Shelenhamer’s, she went to school, helped with childcare, and farm work. She attended First Baptist Church in Bolivar with the Shelenhamer family.
Helen married Andro Fowler and to this union were born Donita Pearl and Shelley Denise. Shelley passed away as an infant. Helen and Andro later divorced.
Helen went to work for Max and Rose Roweton, caring for their children. Max and Rose introduced her to Shirl Chappell and the two fell in love and married in 1967. Both worked at the Roweton home and farm for many years.
Helen and Shirl also helped raise a second generation of Shelenhamer’s, helping Donna raise her family.
Helen was so proud of her family. She worked hard to provide the best for Donita and instilled the same work ethic she had in her. When Donita married Mark Stanek and began their own family, Helen helped with the next generation of kids, this time the Stanek kids. She blessed grandkids, great grandkids and even a great-great grand child with her love. Helen’s family was her world and she told everyone about how proud she was of them, over and over again!
Helen loved her family so much and attended as many events as she could. She was a go to babysitter for so many kids. She went by Helen, Helen Mae, Aunt Mae, and her favorite Bacca.
Some of her favorite activities were getting a cherry coke from Sonic and going to Dunnegan Memorial Park with Donita to watch the swans and geese. Helen and Donita were named the unofficial Polk County Lawn Patrol. She was an amazing cookie maker. She also enjoyed genealogy and has recorded information on every cemetery in Polk and Cedar County as well as part of Hickory County. She was a charter member of the Polk County Historical Society. She had a love for cardinals, swans, horses, and mules. She has canned many fruits and vegetables and drank many coffees at Woods supermarket. She is preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Eva Vickers, husband, Shirl Chappell, daughter, Shelley, step-son, Kenton Fowler, brothers EJ and Kenneth Vickers. She is survived by her daughter Donita (Mark) Stanek, grandchildren Andy (Jami) Stanek, Janieca (Shannon) Hancock, Jason (Bobbie) Stanek, Kenton Stanek, great grandchildren, JW and Emma Hancock, Hattie and Jude Stanek, Logan Morford, great great grandchild Owen Morford, stepdaughter Leola Smith, her special pets Dog Teddy and cockatiel Joe.
She will be missed by so many and has left many memories for multiple generations. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Polk County Historical Society or charity of your choosing.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Hellen Mae Chappell please visit our Sympathy Store.
What’s your fondest memory of Helen?
What’s a lesson you learned from Helen?
Share a story where Helen's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Helen you’ll never forget.
How did Helen make you smile?
