Merl Gene Helms

1929 - 2025

Merl Gene Helms

June 14, 1929 - February 3, 2025

To know him is to love him...

In Dad's own words: Born June 14, 1929, in Mitchell, Ore. to Charles Vincent Helms and Estella Jane (Nicholas) Helms. I was raised in Mitchell, attended schools in Mitchell, and graduated Mitchell Union High School in 1947. After H.S., I attended OCE for one quarter and decided college was not for me at that time.

In Mitchell, I worked for Hudspeth Pine Inc. at the Mountain Creek Mill, Spray Or. Mill, and at the Bridge Creek Mill at Mitchell. After a two year stint in the Army 1950-1952, serving in Germany, I returned to Mitchell and worked for Hudspeth Pine in the truck shop and as a log truck driver. In 1955, I decided to use my G.I. Bill and go to college. I enrolled at OCE in the fall of 1955 and graduated in the spring of 1959.

I met Phyllis Anne Thompson in Prineville in 1955, and we were married on February 3, 1956. My first teaching job was at Canyonville H.S. in Canyonville, Ore. We were at Canyonville for five years, then at Sunset H.S. in Beaverton, Ore. for one year. The next three years we lived and worked at the Tongue Point Job Corps Center in Astoria, Ore. In 1968 we moved to Albany, and I went to work for the Albany H.S. district, later to become the Greater Albany Public School District From: 1968-1970 Counselor N. Albany J.H.S.; 1970-1973 Vice Principal N. Albany J.H.S.; 1973-1986 Vice Principal Memorial M.S.; and 1986-1991 Principal Memorial M.S..

I was preceded in death by my sisters, Inis Irene Jones of Biggs Junction and Mary Jane Smith of Prineville, Ore. My daughters are Claudia Fay (Bothwell) Dean, presently living in Albany, Ore. and Robin Sue Hawley of Portland, Ore. My grandsons are Dustin Bothwell, Nicholas Bothwell, Tyler Dean, Cody Dean, Steven Hawley, and Basil Hawley, and my great-grandsons are Drake Bothwell, Deegan Bothwell, Declan Bothwell, and William Hawley.

I am a member of First Evangelical Church, East Albany Lions Club, American Legion, and AARP.

Please join Merl's family at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albany, Ore. for a memorial service and reception following (downstairs). Condolences may be expressed at www.aasum-dufour.com.