Helen F. Bartlett

Helen Frances Bartlett passed away peacefully at her daughter's home on September 26, 2025, at the age of 99 years 8 months. She was born on January 22, 1926, to Harold and Dorothy (Jermin) Clark, in Northville Township, Michigan. She was baptized in Alpena, Michigan, at Trinity Episcopal Church, by her great uncle.
She grew up in Pontiac, Michigan and graduated from Howell High School in 1944, and Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) in 1949, with a Home Economics Education degree and music minor. She taught Home Ec. in Standish, Michigan from 1949-1950. She married Gerald "Jerry" Bartlett on August 5, 1950 and taught Home Ec. in Caro, Michigan from 1950-1952 for the same school her husband Jerry was the band and choir director. There they began their family where three of their children were born. In 1958, they moved to East Lansing, Michigan where their fourth child was born. In 1976 they moved to Whitehall, Michigan where Helen lived out the rest of her life in the White Lake area.
Helen was generous, a woman of faith and an avid reader especially devotionals and biographies. She loved to learn and encouraged others to learn, usually with a book she could recommend or give. She enjoyed gardening and sharing her plants with others, making flower arrangements, listening to classical music (notably Blue Lake Public Radio), singing in church and community choirs, and volunteering as church and music librarian at Lebanon Lutheran. She had a beautiful smile, loved talking with people and having good conversations.
Helen dedicated her life to be a helpmate to Jerry with her gifts of organization and hosting; whether it be with Jerry's high schools' band and orchestras, church choir, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and Jerry's golfing friends often with homemade meals. She made all guests feel at home and loved to try out new recipes on company.
Helen was a caring and giving mother to her children and strove to facilitate every family member's success. She was loyal to and proud of all her family's accomplishments no matter how big or small. She took joy and great pleasure in her grandchildren and treated them as her own. She especially delighted in reading to them when they were young. She was always thinking of others and often showed her thoughtfulness by sending newspaper clippings that let us know she was thinking of us. She will be greatly missed.
Helen is survived by: her children, Paul Bartlett, Carol (Brian) Rood, and Linda Blakemore; her grandchildren, Jason (Kate) Rood, Brandon (Heather) Bartlett, Addie (Danny Cordova) Bartlett, Joshua (Michaeleen) Rood, Anna (César Ruiz Ledesma) Bartlett, Daniel Blakemore, and Stephanie Blakemore; great-grandchildren, Shakur Rood, Harmony Rood, Johanna Cordova, Lena Cordova, and Leo Bartlett; and her brothers, Thomas (Kathleen) Clark and Frank (Carol) Clark.
Helen was preceded in death by: her parents; husband; and son, David. 
MEMORIAL SERVICE: Saturday, November 1, 2025, 11:00 AM, at Lebanon Lutheran Church, 1101 S Mears, Whitehall, MI 49461.
Memorial suggestions: Michigan State University music department, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Blue Lake Public Radio, Lebanon Lutheran Church, Harbor Hospice.
Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, White Lake Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
www.beaconfh.com