Joye Helms

Joye Helms, known as Nanny to most, was born April 24, 1930, to Tom Franklin and Lillie Mae Pritchard in Hamlin, TX. She married the love of her life, Dell Ray Helms on February 11, 1949. Joye passed from this earth on July 29, 2024 in Snyder, TX, at the age of 94. Visitation will be Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 1:00 p.m., services to follow at 2:00 p.m. at Weathersbee-Ray Funeral Home Chapel, with burial following at Cottonwood Flat Cemetery.

Joye spent her days as a farmer and rancher's wife at Rough Creek. She worked alongside Dell Ray all of their marriage, taking every step he took to tend the cows, work the fields, grow a garden to fill the cellar and she fed 3 amazing meals a day no matter what was going on. She was tough as nails and had the most loving heart of anyone. She was the best gate opener there ever was. There was never a stranger that set foot on her porch who didn’t get offered a glass of tea, dessert and a visit, no matter the time of day. Once you stepped on that porch, you were another part of her family, loved forever. 

It didn't matter if you were in the pasture working cattle or at the end of a turn row on the tractor, she would be there with a meal to keep you fed and keep you going.

Nanny, along with Grandad’s help, would get their grandkids into some shenanigans and do things like slide on feed sacks down the hill, help saddle and ride steers in the pens when the kids were supposed to be grounded, ruin clothes in the river, or let the Shetland pony come in the house and watch TV. On the way out Tinkerbell left a deposit on the dryer. Her family meant everything to her. Her legacy was honesty, dedication, and beyond everything love. 

 Joye was a member of the First Baptist Church and Order of The Eastern Star. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers and Dell Ray, her loving husband of 66 years. She is survived by her daughter Keta York of Snyder, son Danny Helms and wife Janna of Rough Creek, Grandsons Josh Helms and wife Jody of Rotan, Jason York of Snyder, Grandaughters Kendra Helms of Abilene, Shelley York Billingsley and husband Kraig of Hermleigh, Keila Helms Bearden and husband Shane of Abilene, and great grandkids Bailey and Sam Helms, Maddi and Morgan Bearden, Dylan, Emma and Boston Billingsley.