Helen Sims Neely

Helen Sims Neely, 82 of Arlington, TX passed away Monday morning October 16, 2017, after a brief illness.
She was born on April 8, 1935 in Ethel, MS to Charlie and Zelda Sims. She was one of nine children; sisters, Mrs. Allice Brown(deceased), Mrs. Betty McCool, and Mrs. Dorothy Wakefield; brothers, Mr. Charles Sims(deceased), Mr. Steven J. Sims(deceased), Mr. Buford Sims(deceased), Mr. Larus Sims(deceased), and Mr. Lamar Sims(deceased).
She was on the basketball team in high school, moving to Jackson, MS to work after graduation. She met and married James "Jim" Harris Neely in July 1, 1956. As an Air Force family they lived from Maine to California as they built their family. She is survived by a daughter: Mrs. Shereia Fulton, son-in-law Mr. Rob Fulton, and granddaughter Ms. Sarah Fulton. She also is survived by her son Mr. James Neely. She was widowed in 1986 and never remarried. Helen graduated with an Associate's degree while living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Helen worked for AT&T for many years in multiple States, the California State Tax Board, Baptist Hospital in Jackson, MS, and finally ended her working career after many years at Singing River Electric Power, in Gautier, MS. She relocated to Arlington, TX to be near her family in 1999.
She was a loving wife and a sensitive, devoted mother with a strong Christian faith. She had a great deal of strength raising her children as her husband served multiple tours overseas during the Vietnam War. She was extremely family oriented and her only grandchild, Sarah, was her pride and joy.
Helen always planned excursions to expose her children to educational and cultural events. She loved nature and art in many forms being very creative herself in oil and watercolor painting, ceramics, crocheting, and gardening. She loved traveling, went on several cruses including a trip thru the Panama Canal. She enjoyed Paris, Hawaii, and the Caribbean.
Helen will be greatly missed by many close friends and family. She is preceded in death by her husband Jim, five brothers, and one sister.