Helen Kovacs

On Thursday, December 28, 1948, Helen (Escamilla) Kovacs was born to Adela Figueroa Escamilla and John Escamilla, her biological father, in Bay City Texas. She was raised by her father Daniel Zepeda and made her entrance into glory on January 23, 2025, at the age of 76.

Helen was a strong woman of faith. She had a fierce love towards her family and grandchildren and great-granddaughter. She always carried a presence of kindness that touched everyone she met. If you ever knew her then you knew what it was to feel God’s grace. Her deepest passion was her walk of faith that she taught her children and her grandchildren. Her strength and resilience will never be forgotten. She was called “Tiny but Mighty.”

Helen worked many years as a Teacher’s Aide in the Madisonville School District doing what she loved and teaching others. In her later years she moved on to work and retire from the TDCJ as an Administrative Assistant. Her passion was oil painting. She loved to capture scenes of nature to include all types of birds. She told me that every artist has something unique in their paintings, and her gift were the strokes of blue shades in every painting she did. Her hobbies included crocheting, puzzles, bird watching, gardening, taking trips with her sisters, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Helen was preceded in death by both parents, Adela and Daniel Zepeda, and her biological father, John Escamilla. She was also preceded by her sister, Delia Trevino; brother, David Zepeda; and grandson, Zachary Zarate.

Helen leaves behind her spouse, Dale Kovacs; two daughters, Audrea Gannaway and Bridget Drake; three grandchildren, Daniel Gannaway, Natalie Drake, and Kaliyah Drake; great granddaughter, Kylie Gonzalez; and son-in-law, Gregory Gannaway.

Others left to cherish her memory include her sisters, Adeline Gonzalez (Daniel), Ofelia Zepeda, and Diana Zepeda Rodriguez; brother, Daniel Zepeda, Jr. (Irma); step-daughters, Lnnea Kellett (Michael), and Angie Green (Jerry); and grandchildren, Shelby and spouse, Rob Kurz, Ryan Green (Kayla), Maci Broach, Grace Johnson, Jack Johnson, and Addison Coleman.

A funeral service honoring Helen’s life, officiated by pastor Beau Bevers, will take place at the First Baptist Church in Madisonville, Texas on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 11A.M. Visitation is scheduled for one hour before the service starting at 10 A.M.

Final arrangements for Helen Kovacs are under the compassionate care and direction of Madisonville Funeral Home, Madisonville, Texas.