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Submitted: 5/27/21 • Approved: 5/27/21 • Last Updated: 5/30/21 • R827495-G827495-S3
Helen
Apr 15, 1932
Oct 21, 2020
Neil
May 29, 1933
Feb 19, 2021
Helen C. Hanks, a resident of West Plains, and formerly of Willow Springs, passed away early Wednesday morning, October 21, 2020 while at Brookhaven Health Care in West Plains, MO. She was born April 15, 1932 in Oklahoma City, OK to Horace Edward and Olive Irene (Crosby) Hudson and was 88 years old.
On July 2, 1952 she was married to Neil Hanks in Mountain Home, AR. They were married 68 years. Helen and Neil lived in Willow Springs most of their life. They moved to West Plains in the fall of 2007. When she was younger, Helen played softball and was an excellent center fielder. She and Neil also enjoyed playing golf with their friends as well as the card game “pitch”. Camping at the lake and going to Branson, MO in their motor home was also a favorite past time. She also loved taking their grandchildren to Silver Dollar City with Neil. She will be dearly missed by her family, her friends, and all who knew her.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Horace Hudson of Willow Springs and Olive (Hudson) Doddrill; her stepfather Joe Doddrill of Shawnee, OK; three brothers: Edward Hudson of Conneaut, OH, John Hudson and David Hudson of Willow Springs; father and mother-in-law, Clyde and Ruby Hanks of Willow Springs; her sister-in-law, Mary Poppitz of Willow Springs; two brothers-in-law: Claude (Butch) Gauldin of Willow Springs and Rex Hanks of Mtn. Home, AR; and three nephews and two nieces.
Helen is survived by her husband, Neil of West Plains; two daughters: Debra S. Martin and her husband, Mitchell of Montier, MO, and Kathy A. Hickson and her husband, Danny of West Plains; two grandsons: Preston Martin and friend DeDe of Montier, MO, Dr. Chad Walesky and his wife, Liz of Boston, MA; granddaughter Michelle Martin of Mountain View; four great-granddaughters: Cheyenna, Jerrica, Angel, and Josie; two sisters-in-law: Louise Gauldin of Willow Springs and Mildred Simkins of Springfield. She is further survived by several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Helen’s memory to the Willow Springs Scholarship Club and may be left at the funeral home.
A graveside funeral service for Helen Hanks will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. at the Willow Springs City Cemetery with Pastor Joel Hinds officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Willow Funeral Home, LLC. Online condolences may be left at www.willowspringsfuneralhome.com
Neil Hanks, a resident of West Plains, formerly of Willow Springs, passed away Friday morning, February 19, 2021 while at Brooke Haven Healthcare in West Plains. He was born May 29, 1933 in rural Howell County, MO to Clyde and Ruby (Gregory) Hanks and was 87 years old.
Neil received his elementary education in rural Howell County and went on to attend Willow Springs High School and Central Technical Institute in Kansas City. On July 2, 1952 he married Helen C. Hudson in Mountain Home, AR. They remained happily married for 68 years. Neil proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. Neil was employed in Communications with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for more than 34 years, before retiring in 1991. He and Helen lived most of their lives in Willow Springs before moving to Pleasant Valley Village in West Plains in 2007 because of health issues. Neil enjoyed playing golf with Helen and their friends. He also enjoyed camping at the lake and Branson, MO in their motorhome. He loved taking the grandchildren to see shows and Silver Dollar City every year with Helen. He will be dearly missed by his family, his friends, and all who knew him.
Neil was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Ruby Hanks; his wife, Helen; his brother, Rex Hanks of Mtn. Home, AR; his sister, Mary Poppitz; father-in-law, Horace Hudson; mother-in-law, Olive Dodrill; step father-in-law, Joe Dodrill; brothers-in-law: Edward Hudson, Claude (Butch) Gauldin, John Hudson, David Hudson; and three nephews and two nieces.
He is survived by two daughters: Debra S. Martin and her husband, Mitchell of Montier, MO and Kathy A. Hickson and her husband, Danny of West Plains, MO; two grandsons: Preston Martin and friend, DeDe of Montier and Dr. Chad Walesky and his wife, Liz of Olathe, KS; one granddaughter, Michelle Martin of Mtn. View, MO; four great granddaughters: Cheyanna, Jerrica, Angel and Josie, who lovingly referred to him as “Pipaw.” Further survivors include his sisters: Louise Gauldin of Willow Springs and Mildred Simkins of Springfield, MO; David Poppitz and his wife, Linda; several nieces and nephews and a bunch of good ole buddies from the Willow Springs Golf Course, who called him “High Dollar.”
In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests donations in Neil’s memory be made to Willow Springs Scholarship Club, PO Box 484, Willow Springs, MO, 65793.
A visitation for Neil Hanks will be held on March 1, 2021 from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. at First Baptist Church in Willow Springs with Pastor Joel Hinds officiating with the funeral service immediately following at 11:00 A.M. Interment will be in the Willow Springs City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Willow Funeral Home, LLC. Online condolences may be left at www.willowspringsfuneralhome.com
Contributed on 5/27/21 by mjrwag
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Record #: 827495