Helen A. Gregory

Helen A. (Crouch) Gregory, 92, Jefferson City, formerly of Maryville, passed into eternal life Monday, February 4, 2013, at the University of Missouri Medical Center in Columbia, Mo. She was born December 30, 1920, in King City, Mo., the daughter of Ernest E. and Lottie A. (Wheatley) Crouch. Helen grew up on a farm near King City on Empire Prairie, where she also attended grade school. She graduated from King City High School in 1938. She also attended Northwest Missouri State Teachers College and the University of Colorado, Boulder. She was united in marriage on January 4, 1944, in Miami, Fla., to James Robert Gregory, who preceded her in death on June 11, 2007. Helen and "Bob" were married 63 years. Helen was mainly a homemaker but also worked as a school teacher at Columbia School, a one-room schoolhouse on Empire Prairie, in the plant protection department at North American Bomber Plant in Kansas City, during World War II, and in the Placement Office at Northwest Missouri State College. A member of the First United Methodist Church in Maryville for over 50 years, Helen was active in the Deborah Circle and United Methodist Women. She was also a member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha Alumni Association, P.E.O. Chapter L, Faculty Dames at NWMSU, and, as a coach's wife, spent many, many hours sitting in basketball arenas and football stadiums. She and Bob enjoyed playing golf, traveling, and visiting their extended family. Helen also loved to play bridge with her longtime friends in Maryville. Survivors include two daughters: Carol (Robert) Schmidt, Jefferson City and Judy (John) Hlawatsch, Lafayette, Colo.; three grandchildren: Allison (Brad) McCoy, Heather (Jeff) Agee, both of Tampa, Fla., and Jennifer Hlawatsch, Lafayette, Colo.; and four great-grandchildren: Ethan and Blake McCoy and Tilden and Charlotte Agee, of Tampa, Fla. She will be missed by all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who enjoyed listening to her many stories about growing up on a farm during The Great Depression. In addition to her parents and spouse, she was preceded in death by her beloved brother, George Edward Crouch. A celebration of Helen's life will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013, 1 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church, 102 Main St. The family asks that memorials be sent to the James Robert Gregory Athletic Scholarship at Northwest Missouri State University, the P.E.O. projects, or the First United Methodist Church, Maryville. Price Funeral Home, Maryville, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left online at www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com