Helen Merrill Neil

Helen Merrill NEIL Helen passed away peacefully in her home in Ballard on Sept. 4, 2002 with her family at her side after an inspiring and courageous battle with cancer at the age of 83. She was born in Irvin, WA on March 25, 1919, in the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot where her father was the railroad agent. At the age of five, she started first grade at Trent Grade School. Later her dad was transferred to the Reardan Washington Depot where she attended both Junior and Senior High. At Reardon High, she earned an athletic letter in Varsity Tennis. She then attended Eastern Washington State College in Cheney where she earned a teaching degree, developed the children's theater, specialized in speech therapy and was awarded the Golden Circle. After graduation, she accepted a position with the Seattle Public Schools teaching third grade at Warren Avenue Elementary School. While teaching at Warren Avenue, she met her future husband on a blind date. They were married October 17, 1948 and soon decided to move to Ballard. Helen was married 53 years to her loving husband, Ralph "Bud" Neil. She gave birth to her first child in 1951, her second in 1953 and third in 1955. Later she became Vice President, then President of the Crown Hill Elementary School PTA where her children attended. She was Chairman of Fun Night at the school and was instrumental in getting the pedestrian overpass built at Holman Road and 13th NW for the safety of the Crown Hill Elementary children. She was active in Camp Fire Girls, Cub Scouts and taught Sunday School at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Ballard. She returned to her love of teaching elementary school as a substitute teacher in the Seattle Public Schools, and became very active at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in North Seattle. Helen was a long time volunteer at Ballard Convalescent Center and in her retirement she became a member of Seattle Retired School Employee's Association where she was presented a community participation award in December 1989 and was a member of the Greenwood Senior Center and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. She is survived by her loving husband, Ralph; son, David Neil of Seattle; two daughters, and their husbands, Sarah and Ross Wood of Everson, WA and Becky and Denny Boone of Olympia; her two grandchildren, Neil Wood and Anna Boone; nephews, David Nelson, Michael Nelson, David Todd Nelson and wife, Sherry and family from Spokane; niece and husband, Marilyn and Charles McCarrell and her sons, Randy, Robert and Ronald Brown of Seattle plus the many, many friends. Helen was a devoted and loving mother and grandmother. Her passions were her family gatherings, trips to Hawaii, St. Andrews Church activities, friends and sharing the flowers from her garden with others. She will be deeply missed by her family and all those that knew her. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2002 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church located at 111 N.E. 80th St., Seattle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Swedish Ballard Medical Treatment Center Fund or Swedish Home Health and Hospice. Arrangements, WIGGEN & SONS FUNERAL HOME.