Mockridge, Helen
MOCKRIDGE, JERRELL, FONG, SCHISEL
Posted By: Ruth Maring - VOLUNTEER
Date: 10/19/2010 at 13:54:16
Helen Mockridge
(Died October 1, 2010)Helen Mockridge, former long-time resident of DeWitt, died at her home in Wesley Terrace, Des Moines, Wash., Oct. 1, 2010. She was 91.
The only child of Roscoe and Lela Jerrell, Helen was born in Pratt, Kan., in 1918 and grew up in Methodist parsonages in several small Iowa towns. The Jerrells moved to the DeWitt church in 1938.Helen graduated from Tipton High School in 1936 and completed two years at Cornell College before taking a job at the Iowa Mutual Insurance Co. in 1938.
She married William R. Mockridge in April of 1941. During World War II, Helen and Bill lived in Texas and California. They returned to DeWitt in 1946, and Bill resumed his law practice. After his untimely death in 1969, Helen continued to live there until December 1989, when she moved to be closer to family.
Helen participated in a wide variety of community organizations and projects. Various service awards cited her as an "innovator, leader and sparkplug."
She was a member of PEO and taped Books for the Blind. She spearheaded the local American Field Services (AFS) foreign exchange program, and the Mockridge family hosted one of the first visiting students.
She was very active in the United Methodist Church and had a special commitment to mission programs. In 1982, she went to Zimbabwe, assisting at a medical clinic in the bush.
Her proudest memories were of her planning and fund-raising efforts for the Frances Banta Waggoner Library from 1983 to 1989.
The Central Community Teachers' Association honored her for her work on the school district's citizen's advisory commit-tee and AFS. In 1987, she was the first recipient in the DeWitt area of the Spirit Award from the American Association of University Women.
After her move to Washington State, she continued volunteering - at the West Seattle Helpline and as a reading tutor for adult immigrants and elementary school children.
In 2005 she moved to Wesley Homes in Des Moines, Wash., where she started a book club and chaired several residents' committees. Into her 90s, she was a first-rate bridge player. She loved travel, crosswords, theater, classical music and jazz.
She is survived by her children: Susan (David) Fong of San Luis Obispo, Calif., David (Sharon) Mockridge a of Freeport, Ill., and Julie (Chuck) Schisel of Burien, Wash., four grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and nine step- great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by a grandson.
A memorial gathering is planned in DeWitt at a date to be announced.
The family suggests memorial gifts in Helen's name to the Frances Banta Waggoner Library or the DeWitt United Methodist Church.
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