JOHNSON, Helen Kirker Clemons Braga

JOHNSON, SMITH, KIRKER, CLEMONS, BRAGA

Posted By: Jeffrey R. Phillips (email)
Date: 1/22/2005 at 16:01:48

Helen Johnson
By: 12/30/2003

December 24, 2003

McGREGOR, Texas - Helen (Kirker) Clemons Braga Johnson, 88, of McGregor, Texas, formerly of Iowa Falls and other central Iowa towns, died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003, at Westview Manor Nursing Home in McGregor, where she had resided the past two years. As a willed-body donor/participant, there will be no memorial at this time. Messages may be sent to her daughter, Kae Carlson-Farrell Hineline, 2617 Skyline Dr., Waco, Texas 76710, or donations may be made to your favorite charity.
Helen's early childhood, as the daughter of Rev. Lucius L. and Katherine Smith, former chaplain of the Iowa Veteran's Home in Marshalltown, was spent in numerous small Iowa towns, graduating from Dow City High School in 1932. Helen received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Texas-Pan American, in Edingburg, Texas, in 1965. Her 33-year career of elementary public school teaching began in Iowa and included 18 years of teaching in southern Texas before retiring in Harlingen, Texas in 1977.
In 1939, Helen was united in marriage to James E. Kirker in Milwaukee, Wis. She had served as cateress for the Binford House in Marshalltown in 1977. Helen is a former member of Marshall Rebecca Lodge No. 40 in Marshalltown, a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star-Harlingen Chapter No. 641 in Harlingen, serving as Worthy Matron five times in various chapters where she resided. She is past president of Kappa Kappa Iota National Teachers' Sorority, and past president of the Auxiliary of the United Spanish War Veterans of Iowa. Helen was a former member of the First Baptist Church in Combes, Texas, and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Harlingen, participating in numerous circle groups in various cities. Upon retirement, she became an active volunteer for the MHMR in Harlingen, the Visually Impaired Persons and served on the Harlingen Housing Authority board for several years. Helen remained active until her death, organizing rhythm band musical groups and playing the piano for the enjoyment of others.
Survivors include one son, James (Jim) Kirker Jr. of Miami, Okla.; one daughter, Kae Carlson-Farrell Hineline of Waco; a granddaughter, Heidi Kae (Kirker) Roderick and family of Naples, Fla.; and three nieces, Dianne (Smith) Davis and family of Corning, Brenda (Smith) Krough and family of Marshalltown and Blakely (Smith) Burke and family of Washington, D.C. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Johnson; a sister, Ruthella (Mrs. Arnold) Smith; and a brother, Quayle Smith.

©Iowa Falls Times-Citizen 2005