Helen Farris Wallace
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Helen Farris Wallace
February 1, 1916 - December 1, 2011
Helen Farris Wallace of Beaumont—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother—died peacefully on December 1, 2011, at the age of 95. She was born February 1, 1916, in Beaumont, Texas.
Known by friends and family alike as “Titee”, Helen spent the majority of her working life as a nurse, serving Jefferson County for forty years and raising her only child, James, alongside her husband of 64 years, Jack Fields Wallace (deceased 2005). A first-generation Texan, Helen was one of three children born to Odelia and Jacob Farris, immigrants from Beirut, Lebanon. She was preceded in death by her brother, Moses, and sister, Annie.
Helen retired at 75 and spent the rest of her life spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, cooking Lebanese food, and hosting a myriad of friends and family at every opportunity. Helen’s greatest joys were her family and her generous heart in serving others. Truly there is not another person who so embodied the spirit of an open heart, an open home, and an open table for all who wanted or needed one. As someone once said, “They don’t make them like that anymore.”
Helen is survived by her son, James Wallace and wife Jane; grandson, Jason Wallace and wife Hallie; granddaughter, Michelle DeCrane; great-granddaughters Carys Elena DeCrane (age 4) and Sadie Jane Wallace (age 2); and a number of friends. The family would like to extend special thanks to Parkway Place and caregivers Jackie Cross, Marilyn “Cissy” Wall, Sheila Robertson and Mable Berrott, who all lovingly helped care for Jack and Helen.
Graveside service was 2:00 P.M. Saturday, December 3, 2011, at Magnolia Cemetery with her grandson, Jason, officiating, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.
For those wishing to honor Helen, donations may be made to the Pine Cove Christian Camp Scholarship Endowment Fund with “In Memory of Helen Wallace” noted, Pine Cove Christian Camp, Attn: Development Department, P.O. Box 9055, Tyler, Texas 75711, or online at www.pinecove.com/giving.
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