HELEN LOUISE ROBERTS HALES
Dec. 1, 1925-Feb. 9, 2016
Helen Louise Roberts Hales, 90, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Big Elm Nursing Home in Kannapolis.
She was born Dec. 1, 1925, to Emogine Peele Roberts and Milford (Dick) Smith Roberts.
She married James Roland Hales Sept. 30, 1944.
Helen graduated from New Hope High School in 1942. Many years later, she continued her education at Wayne Community College, where she received her degree as an LPN.
After graduating, she worked in the office of Dr. Ashton Griffin for more than 25 years.
Helen was a longtime member of St. Luke United Methodist Church, where she served for many years as president of the United Methodist Women.
In 2000, she was named St. Luke's Lay Person of the year.
She also served as president of the Lion's Auxiliary of Goldsboro Host Lion's Club, where her husband, Roland, was a member for more than 50 years.
Helen was devoted to her family, her church and her community. She loved making meals and desserts to deliver to friends and shut-ins. Her chocolate pies and pound cakes were special favorites.
Helen enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and walking on the beach at Emerald Isle, where she and Roland had a summer retreat.
But her absolute favorite pastime was making quilts by hand. She spent many hours with the St. Luke Quilters. Her pride and joy was a wedding ring quilt she hand cut, sewed and quilted over a three-year period.
Helen was preceded in death by her brothers, Urban Jay, James Lemly and Jack Edgar.
She is survived by her husband of 71 years, James Roland; her sister, Eleanor Rae Roberts Senour of South Bend, Ind.; two children, daughter, Peggy Hales Scott and husband, Jeff, of Fayetteville, and son James Alan Hales and wife, Diane, of Troutman; four grandchildren, Kim Hales Roche and husband, Andy, of Kannapolis, Erin Hales Chinners and husband, Ed, of Lexington, S.C., Michael Scott and wife, Brandi, of Greensboro and Jeffrey Scott and wife, Anne, of Salisbury; and 11 great-grandchildren, Anna and Louisa Roche, Grace, Nathan, Davis and Weston Chinners, Ella, Kiah and Luca Scott and Avalyn and Emma Scott.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later time at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Goldsboro.
The family would like to thank Barbara Sturm, Martha Hall, Betty Holt, Kim Gurley and Terrell and LaWanda Hall, who were loving caregivers to Helen and Roland before they moved to Kannapolis. Also, a special thanks to the nurses and staff at Big Elm for their kindness and constant attention to our mother.
Memorials and donations can be made in Helen's name to Alzheimers Association of Eastern North Carolina, 3739 National Drive, Suite 110, Raleigh, N.C., 27612; Parkinson Association of the Carolinas, 5970 Fairview Road, Suite 217, Charlotte, N.C., 28210; or Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, N.C., 28081.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on February 17, 2016 1:49 PM