Lillie Ilena Marie Helm

Reverend Lillie Ilena Marie Helm passed away May 5, 2022, at Comanche County Hospital. Born to Luther J. and Marie (Robertson) Helm on September 10, 1952, in Parmer County, her family had roots in farming and ranching. Her father was a Methodist minister, so Marie moved many times in her youth, graduating from New Deal High School in 1970.

Marie completed a BA in Church Music at McMurry University in 1974. She later completed a Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and was ordained an Elder of the United Methodist Church in 1998. An excellent musician with perfect pitch, she played piano, organ, and guitar and was very much at home playing a pipe organ. She was well read, reading widely among many genres.

Marie was a newspaper reporter and photographer in Breckinridge and managing editor in Dublin. She often taught private music lessons. At various times she worked with youth and music programs and started an after-school program for youth in Comanche. Marie also taught music classes for Newcastle Public Schools.

Rev. Helm pastored churches in Corsicana/Frost/Italy/Irene/Milford, Ennis/Rice, Rising Star/May, Newcastle/Jean, Abbott, with her final charge in Brock. While in Abbott, she was Campus Minister for Hill College in Hillsboro. She medically retired in 2006.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Jim and Meredith, and sister Velma Dean Quesenberry. She is survived by brothers H. R. Helm, John Thomas Helm, Michael Timothy Helm, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Handbells Fund of the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 88, Comanche, Texas, 76442.

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