Helen Spees

Helen Spees HICKORY Helen Ethel Harrington Spees, 91, of Greeneville, Tenn., passed away Monday, March 26, 2012. Born March 28, 1920, in Atlanta, Miss., Mrs. Spees was the daughter of the late Quincy and Ethel Edwards Harrington. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Royal B. Spees, and a sister, Fern Harrington Miles. Following her graduation from Northeast Missouri State Teacher's College in 1942, she taught high school home economics until she married Royal Beecher Spees in 1944. After his graduation from optometry school, they moved to Greeneville, Tenn. in 1950. There, she was known for her gifts as a loving mother to four sons, homemaker, gardener, seamstress, and community volunteer. Helen was an active member of Asbury United Methodist Church and the Andrew Johnson Club. An avid birdwatcher from childhood, Helen was a member of the East Tennessee Ornithological Society. She shared her love of bird watching and nature with many adults and children, especially her grandchildren. She is survived by her sons, Lynn B. Spees, MD, (JoAnn) of Hickory; Karl E. Spees, MD, (Soonja) of Port Angeles, Wash., David N. Spees, MD, (JoEllen Patterson, PhD) of San Diego, Calif. and Wade H. Spees (Anne) of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Nathan Spees (Alexandra) of Innsbruck, Austria, Andrew Quincy Spees of Mountain City, Tenn., Lisa Spees of Chapel Hill, Matthew Spees of San Diego, Calif, Graham Harrington Spees and Anne Haley Spees of Charleston, S.C.; and three brothers, Burch Harrington of Chillicothe, Mo., Ward Harrington (Edith) of Macon, Mo. and Roy Harrington (Dorose) of Moline, Ill. Helen's children wish to express their sincere thanks to the staff of Sterling House of Hickory for their affection and care. The wit and warmth they shared made them a part of her family. Both laughter and prayers filled her room during her last days, with the assistance and guidance of Hospice of Catawba Valley. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the scholarship fund of Asbury Child Enrichment Center, 201 Main Street, Greeneville, Tennessee 37743, or to a charity of the donor's choice. A celebration of Mrs. Spees's life will be held in the chapel at Asbury United Methodist Church, Greeneville, Tenn. Saturday, March 31, at 2:30 p.m. with the Rev. Jeannie Higgins officiating. The family will receive friends in the chapel from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Interment will follow at Greenelawn Memory Gardens. Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home, Greeneville, Tenn., is handling funeral arrangements.