Wilda Mae (Kelsay) Helms (Seymour)'s Obituary
Wilda Mae Kelsay Helms, beloved mother, grandmother and sister, departed this earthly life surrounded by her family the afternoon of Sunday, June 16, 2019, at Marshfield Care Center. One of eight children, and twin sister to Wanda, Wilda was born October 5, 1949, in Norwood, Missouri, to Henry Dee and Ada Mae (Mings) Kelsay.
Raised in Hartville, Wilda was a graduate of the Hartville High School Class of 1967. A few years after graduating, she moved to Seymour and started a family. Wilda worked as a waitress at A-1 Diner in Seymour on Old 60. She bought the restaurant several years later and changed the name to Wilda’s Café. After years of happily serving the public, she retired in 2009.
She was a woman of Faith. Wilda was saved and baptized and regularly attended various local churches over the years. When her health no longer permitted getting out for church, she faithfully read her bible and watched John Hagee Ministries and The 700 Club.
Wilda joined the Seymour Lions Club in April 2003 and quickly became a very active member. She truly enjoyed volunteering for Lions sponsored community projects and events, with Apple Festival being her favorite.
Family meant the most to Wilda and she made sure they knew it. She was a hardworking and devoted mother to her sons, a fun-loving and adoring grandmother to her seven grandchildren, a loyal sister who was also blessed to be a twin, and a dear friend to so many.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her only brother, Lane Lathrom, in March 2006.
Wilda leaves behind two sons, Darrin and Kristi Kelsay of Marshfield, and Tony and Misty Rippee of Seymour; seven grandchildren, Haven, Layton, Braelyn, Dalton, Libby, Matthew, and Michael; six sisters, Gale and Wendall Cook of Powell, TN, Marilyn Jones of Springfield, MO, Wanda and Jeff Messenger of Republic, MO, Glenda and Paul Burris of Grovespring, MO, Karen and Dick Dampier of Urbana, MO, and Debbie and Mike Jones of Mansfield, MO; many nieces and nephews, and extended family.
Wilda is gone too soon from our lives. She has left us countless precious memories we’ll carry in our hearts. We take comfort and find peace in knowing that she was ready to go to Heaven and be In God’s Care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the funeral home.
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