TERRY, Helen Ann (COPENHAVER)

TERRY, MCANELLY, JETT, COPENHAVER, JOHNSON, CHIUSANO

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/11/2015 at 08:59:16

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, January 15, 2015, Page 1

Longtime Record-News owner, community supporter passes away

Word has been received on the death of Helen Terry, former owner of the Mount Ayr Record-News.

Helen and her husband Jack Terry spent 15 years in Lamoni where they owned the Lamoni Chronicle. In 1965 the Terrys purchased the Record-News and soon moved to Mount Ayr.

Helen began working at the Record-News in 1968 and continued working here for 28 years until her retirement in 1998.

"Helen was one of the first people to welcome Tami and me to the community when we purchased the Record-News in 2012," said Record-News publisher Tom Hawley. "She had a great love of the community and the newspaper and we'll miss her stopping by each week to pick up the latest copy of the paper."

Helen remained an active member of the Mount Ayr United Methodist Church, Chapter CK, P.E.O., Ringgold Singers, Chamber of Commerce and the Robert Burns Chapter of the Iowa Scotish Heritage Society. Helen was a fixture at all community events as she cared deeply about her adopted hometown. She often volunteered her time at the Mount Ayr hospice and the elementary school and always made a point to stop and visit with friends throughout the community.

"Helen was a great supporter of the Mount Ayr Record-News and the community and its activities," said long-time co-worker LuAnn Jackson." Her spirit and dedication will be remembered and missed."

She is survived by her daughters Martha Ann Terry, Barbara McAnelly and Sandie Jett and their families.

Visitation is set for tonight (Thursday) from noon to 8 p.m. at the Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr. A celebration of Helen's life will be held Friday, January 16 at 10:30 a.m. at the Mount Ayr United Methodist Church.

OBITUARY ~ HELEN ANN (COPENHAVER) TERRY
November 16, 1929 ~ January 11, 2015

[Page 14] Helen C. Terry, of Mt. Ayr, IA died on January 11, 2015, in Des Moines, IA, after a short battle with breast cancer. She was 85. Helen Ann Copenhaver, daughter of Robert George and Mary Loretta (Johnson) Copenhaver, was born in Freeport, IL on November 16, 1929. She was very proud of growing up on the family farm on the outskirts of Polo, IL, where she enjoyed raising and riding horses. She was particularly fond of her Arabian Silver Dawn. Helen was also proud of attending a rural one-room elementary school, Buffalo Grove near her childhood home; she was graduated from Polo (IL) Community High School in 1947 and from Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO in 1951.

Helen married Jack R. Terry and to this union four children were born: Martha Ann, Barbara C., Thomas Robert and Sandra Jean. The family spent fifteen years in Lamoni, IA, where Jack and Helen owned the weekly newspaper, The Lamoni Chronicle. In 1965 they purchased The Mount Ayr Record-News, and in July of 1966 the family moved to Mt. Ayr. Helen began working at the Record-News in 1968 and worked for nearly 28 years until retiring in August of 1998.

Helen was an active member of the Mount Ayr United Methodist Church, Chapter CK, P.E.O., Ringgold Singers, Chamber of Commerce and the Robert Burns Chapter of the Iowa Scottish Heritage Society. Helen was an avid sports fan: she rooted for the Mt. Ayr Raiders, Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Bears. She and her daughter Sandie shared a love of tennis, and Helen paid special attention to the careers of Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

Helen loved to bake, especially bread, and often shared rye, white and whole wheat loaves with neighbors and friends around town. She cared deeply about giving back to the community, volunteering at the hospice in Mt. Ayr and the elementary school.

She is survived by her daughters: Martha Ann Terry of Pittsburgh, PA; Barbara C. McAnelly and husband Doug, of Indianola, IA; Sandra Jett and husband David, of Mountain Home, ID, who called her variously Mom, Mother and Helen, depending on the circumstance; by her four grandsons, Christopher Chiusano and wife Deana, of Cranberry Township, PA, Terrence Chiusano of Pittsburgh, PA, Dru McAnelly and wife Meredith, of Bondurant, IA, and Wade McAnelly and wife Jamie, of Minnetonka, MN, (who all called her Grammy); and by five great-grandchildren, living in Pennsylvania and Iowa, who called her SuperGrammy; and by one brother, James Copenhaver and wife Ann, of Lake Forest, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her elder brother, Robert Copenhaver and wife Esther, and by her son, Thomas Terry.

In lieu of flowers, and in accordance with Helen's wishes, the family requests that donations and memorials be directed to funds established at the Mount Ayr United Methodist Church, the Mount Ayr Public Library, and HCI Care Services.

A visitation will be held at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr on Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. A Celebration of her life will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 16 at the United Methodist Church in Mount Ayr with Rev. Skip Rushing officiating. Interment will be held at the Fairmount Cemetery in Polo, IL. Please wear your favorite team colors in memory of Helen's love of sports.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2015

Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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