Helen Marie Mauzey

BURLEY – On Oct. 10, 1925, Helen Marie Burnell was born at the family home in Kalispell, Mont., to Herbert E and Gladys Carnahan Burnell. She was a “country kid” being raised on a farm just outside of town. She graduated from Flathead County High School in 1943 and eventually went to work as a bookkeeper for Pacific Fruit & Produce where she met her future husband, Gene Mauzey. They married on June 19, 1949, and were married for 60 years until Gene’s death in 2011. Helen continued to work at intervals for Pacific Fruit even after she and Gene moved to Woods Bay to care for Gene’s Dad.

Helen was an accomplished seamstress and sewed many of her family’s clothes. She also enjoyed cooking (a family heritage) and the Mauzey home was known as a place for good food and fun. She thought nothing of hosting parties for large groups and was equally open to us kids bringing anyone home for dinner (even after working all day). Whatever house we lived in, she would think of something that would make it “better” and she kept Dad busy tearing down, tearing out, building up, etc.

Helen was a lifelong member of the American Legion Auxiliary where she served as post president. She also belonged to Toastmistress and enjoyed honing her love for witty banter and playful arguing. She was a member of the First Bible Presbyterian Church in Kalispell and the most important thing in her life was her relationship with her God. She loved studying the Bible for herself and spent many years enjoying sweet fellowship with her Bible study ladies.

After Gene retired they purchased a fifth wheel and spent several winters snow birding. They found ministries in need of help and devoted many hours to helping on construction projects, cooking, making quilts – whatever was needed they were willing to do their best. Their traveling companions during this time were Gene’s cousin and his wife and they covered much of the southern U.S. together.

Helen shed her worn out “tent” and entered real life on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, at the Warren House Assisted Living in Burley, Idaho.

She is survived by her children, Shirley (John) Ramey of Burley, Idaho, John (Tina) Mauzey of Kalispell, Mont., and Steve (Linda) Mauzey of Oregon City, Ore.; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; one brother, Fred (Pat) Burnell of Stevensville, Mont.; one sister, Evelyn Shepard of Kalispell, Mont.; two nephews; and one niece.

A service in Helen’s memory will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Calvary Baptist Church, 515 W. 27th St., in Burley.

The family expresses their sincere appreciation to the staff at the Warren House for the excellent care they provided for Mom during the last year and a half of her life.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley.