Helen Bennett

Helen Bennett

Helen Bennett, of Purdy, passed away July 3, 2011 in St. John's Hospital in Springfield. She was born May 31, 1919, the daughter of the late James and Flossie (Sapp) Linebarger. She united in marriage on September 28, 1941 to George Bennett in the First Baptist Church in Purdy, he preceded her in death on August 11, 1989.

Helen taught one year at Norwood before moving to Purdy and teaching at Purdy High School for 38 years before retiring in 1989. While teaching at Purdy, Helen, was the advisor for both the school yearbook and the school newspaper. She played piano and organ in the First Baptist Church in Purdy. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Monett, where she was in the Hand Bell Choir and played piano and organ for seventeen years. Helen attended five years of college and had a degree in Word Processing. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa Sorority. She was also a member of the PEO Chapter CA of Southwest Missouri, Golden Bear Alumni Association, and the Missouri Retired Teachers Association. She was nominated for Teacher of the Year. Helen was secretary to J.W.A. Robertson Jr., who was the building supervisor at Fort Crowder. She played piano every Friday night at the Monett Senior Center.

Helen is survived by one son: David Bennett, Joplin; one daughter: Nancey Gillogly, Sarcoxie; five grandchildren: Beth (Gillogly) Fenske, Julie Gillogly, Gina (Gillogly) Wecker, John Bennett, and Sarah (Bennett) Truitt; six great-grandchildren: Hunter Wecker, Jemma Fenske, Macy Fenske, Marley Bennett, Gavin Wecker, and Parker Truitt.

Helen is preceded in death by both her parents; husband, George, two brothers: Kermit Linebarger and Eddy Linebarger; three sisters: Hazel Wormington, Mary Gover, and Lorraine Linebarger; one grandchild: Brenda(Gillogly) Beckett; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday July 7, 2011 in Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home in Monett, Mo. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday July 8, 2011 in the First Baptist Church on Fourth Street in Monett. Burial to follow services in Purdy Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Purdy Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home of Monett, Mo.