Obituary of Helen Stevenson

Helen Marie Stevenson, age 78, died peacefully at her daughter's home in Camas, after a brief but difficult struggle with cancer. Helen was born and raised in Wenatchee, to Robert Brickwell Bowers and Maria Reich Bowers. She married Robert Ellis Stevenson on June 15, 1957, in Seattle. Helen and Robert, lived in Illinois, New York, Texas, and Seattle while Robert was in the Air Force, and then moved to Ephrata, after he retired, where they lived from 1965 to 1990. In 1990 they moved to Memphis, Tennessee, returning to the West Coast in 1994. Robert passed away unexpectedly on holiday in Aviemore, Scotland on August 17, 1994. While grieving the loss of her husband, Helen made a new life for herself, met many new friends, and reconnected with old friends from Ephrata who had also relocated to Clark County. Those of you, who were her friends, know that she loved you and treasured you; you gave her life much meaning and joy. Helen had many interests, first being her love of genealogy. She began researching her family's history when her youngest stepson needed information for a school project. Her interest became a life-long passion, and her hard work and extraordinary accomplishments are a wonderful legacy for her family. Helen worked as a librarian in Ephrata and contributed to the work of the Grant County Genealogical Society. She taught many people to find their families' origins and until just before she was stricken with cancer, Helen volunteered at the local Mormon Library. Helen was also a passionate traveler. She and her traveling partner, Sharon, were either on a trip, planning a trip, or just coming home from some place. Just before she became sick in April, they were in Spain and Portugal. Up until her last day, Helen was planning the next holiday, even though she was unable to walk because of the tumor-induced paraplegia that had debilitated her since early in her fight against cancer. Helen loved to paint in oils, and although she stopped when her "favorite critic," husband Robert, died, she leaves a number of beautiful paintings for her family to remember her by. Helen also loved to sew and make beautiful dolls. She made quilts and blankets for her children and grandchildren, who will always remember her as they snuggle up in a "Grammy" blanket. And Helen was a great cook. She leaves a treasured cookbook collection, from which she would sometimes read "bedtime stories" to the grandchildren when they were little and spending the night. Helen is survived by: son, John Stevenson, daughter-in-law Rebecca, granddaughter, Trina, and great-grandson, Brenden, of Duvall, Washington; daughter, Lisa Stevenson, granddaughters Stephanie and Rebecca Frommlet, and grandson Christopher Frommlet of Camas; stepson George Stevenson, daughter-in-law Debbie, and granddaughters Jessie and Casey of Memphis, Tennessee, and; stepson Roger Stevenson, of Memphis, and grandsons Tony and Colin, of California. She is also survived by her best friend who was like a sister, Sharon Whitaker, of Kent, Washington, and two dear cousins, who might-as-well-be-siblings, Donna Nellist, of Bellevue, Washington and Rupert Hilton, of Langley, Washington. Helen's memorial service will be September 6, 2008 at 1 p.m., at Brown's Funeral Home in Camas. Helen said often that the only thing that really mattered to her about her funeral was that no one should wear black, brown, or dark blue. Brown's Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Camas has been entrusted with arrangements.