Dateline: June 15, 2006

Fred Harvey Helton died Friday, June 9, 2006 in Amarillo at the age of 89.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, June 12, 2006, in the Robertson Chapel of Memories with Rev. Bruce Howard, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Hedley, officiating. Services were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon. Burial was at Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo.

Mr. Helton was born November 1, 1916, in Norman, Oklahoma, to John H. and Bessie Helton. He married Fay Ruth “Sally” Gill on May 28, 1938, in Clarendon. He worked a variety of jobs to support his family, including work on dairy farms around Clarendon in his early years, sacking groceries for Piggly Wiggly in Amarillo to retiring from M K Chamberlain Truss Company as a supervisor in 1978. After retirement he moved to Lelia Lake to follow his lifelong dream of owning a farm where he could grow a garden and raise livestock. He had to give up his dream at 85 years of age because of health problems and moved to the Canyons Retirement Center in Amarillo. Special thanks to all the Skip-Bo card players, 84 players as well as all the wonderful staff and volunteers at the Canyons Retirement Center.

Mr. Helton was preceded in death by his wife on September 28, 1992, after 54 years of marriage; a son, Randall Dean in 1961; 2 brothers, Forrest Helton and Freeman Helton, his parents, and a special friend Opal Clendennan.

Survivors include 2 daughters, Carolyn Abstein of Pharr, Linda Rodgers and husband Paul of Amarillo; 8 grandchildren, Roya Hand and Scott Parks, Curtis and Paulette Poynor, Rhonda Reel and Terry Marier, Tommy Rodgers and Dora Hernandez, Duane and Terri Abstein; 15 great-grandchildren: Bradley and Brian Hand, Joshua, Scotty and Taylor Poynor, Bailey and BreeAnn Reel, Cassidy and Aaron Rodgers, Mason and Savannah Cain, Adam and Tyler Abstein, Ashley Nino, Alex Abstein; 1 great great grandchild, Austin David Poynor; 3 sisters: Fern Smith of Big Spring, Frieda Siddle of Clarendon, Frances Brogden of Amarillo; and 1 brother, Frank Helton of Odessa.

The family requests memorials be to the Canyons Retirement Center, 2200 West 7th Street, Amarillo, TX 79106.