Helen Irene Coons Horner

Helen Irene Coons Horner went to her heavenly home on July 24, 2023. Helen was born on April 24, 1934, to Floyd and Nellie (Packer) Coons on a farm between Chester, NE, and Belleville, KS. Helen attended Liberty Center Country School until high school, which she attended in Chester for two years, then graduated in 1953 from Belleville, KS. As a girl, Helen was active in the Liberty Rose Creek 4-H club with baking and sewing projects, which she continued as hobbies throughout her life. After high school, Helen worked in the Republic County Court House in Belleville for the County Judge and at a soda fountain in the local drug store, where she first met her future husband, Roy E. Horner.

Helen united in marriage to Roy on March 6, 1955, and celebrated 66 years of marriage together before Roy’s passing in 2021; to this union, they were blessed with five children. For the first 18 years of marriage, Helen and Roy made their home on a farm South of Friend, NE, then moved to the Horner farm west of Friend for another 22 years until retiring in Friend in 1995. Helen was a devoted Christian and began her journey in faith at the age of 12 through immersion baptism at the Christian Church. In 1955, Helen joined the United Methodist Church of Friend, where she has been an active member and participant in many activities, including Sunday school teaching, women’s groups, and bible studies.

Caregiving was a natural talent for Helen. Besides caring for her family, Helen began work in healthcare as a nursing aide at Warren Memorial Hospital and Friend Manor in 1971. Helen found reward in her healthcare career and pursued her degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse, graduating in 1983 and continuing work at Warren Memorial. Over the years, Helen worked for Tabitha Home Health, Fairview Manor, Garden Square, St. Elizabeth Hospice, and as a private duty caregiver in homes. Because of Helen’s dedication to caring for others, she was honored in 2020 as Friend’s Lifetime Citizen.

Even with a busy household, Helen found time for various groups and activities. Helen was a member of the Turkey Creek Homemakers and an active member of P.E.O. with an avid sports enthusiast for a husband. Helen also joined the Friend Bowling League and Friend Country Club, where she also won trophies in bowling and golf. In retirement, Helen worked at the local election site and joined a local Bridge group.

Helen enjoyed baking, crocheting, needlework, and faithfully reading the daily Guidepost and her Bible in her spare time. Helen’s sugar cookies were a favorite holiday treat, and her children and grandchildren all received gifts of crocheting and needlework in quilts. Over the years, Helen gained a thimble keepsake collection from her travels. Planning vacations was challenging as a farmer’s wife, but Helen was a strong, independent woman that enjoyed adventures and often set out on excursions with friends and other family members. When Roy semi-retired from farming, Helen and Roy enjoyed many trips across the country and an Alaskan cruise. However, Helen’s favorite travels were trips to see her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who she adored.

Preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Robert Coons; sister Marjorie Witt. Those left to cherish her memories are her children: Ray Horner, Aurora. CO; Diane (Gary) Randolph Shakopee, MN; Cindy (Lou) Varley, Nebraska City, NE; Roger (Kristy) Horner Friend, NE; Susan Horner, Friend NE. Grandchildren, Ryan Horner, Riley (Dina) Horner, Rebecca (David) Castellanos of Aurora, Colorado, Benjamin Randolph (Berit Wells) Shakopee, MN, Katherine (Chris) Loos, Bloomington, MN, Lucas (Chisa) Varley, Lincoln, NE, Patrick (Heather) Varley, Sunset, LA, Emilie (Jason) Pietramale, Omaha, NE, Kelsie (Alex) Aldana, Nebraska City, NE, Cody Horner, Deshler, NE and Taylor (Nicholas) Jerabek, North Liberty, IA. Great Grandchildren: Adelynn and Jacob Horner; Jonathan, Sofia, James, and Luca Castellanos; Henry and Helen Loos; Caden Varley; Brooke, Dimitri, and Fallyn Varley; Thomas Pietramale; Carter and Jade Aldana; Quentin and Callum Jerabek. Sister and brother: Evelyn Larkins; Max (Jane) Coons. Sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Paul (Ida Lou) Horner, Erma (Dave) Sebek, Ann (Ronald) Hoback, Dorcas (Paul) West, Grace (Vernon) Thomsen, Mary Jo Sabata, Terri Horner. And a host of relatives, neighbors, and friends.

Services 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 5, Friend United Methodist Church. Visitation is 1pm-8pm Friday August 4th at Lauber Funeral Home, Friend with family present from 5pm-7pm. No viewing, cremation. Memorials to Friend United Methodist Church.

There will be a private family Inurnment at a later date.

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