Helen Jones Cantrell

Helen Jones Cantrell, 96, of Ottawa, Kansas passed away peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at Rock Creek of Ottawa, Ottawa, Kansas.

Services will be held 2:30 pm, Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at Grace Community Fellowship, Ottawa. Family will greet friends 1:30 – 2:30 pm, prior to services.

Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas.

Helen was born Monday, October 24, 1927, in Kansas City, Kansas, the daughter of Waldo and Rettie (Harris) Jones.

She lived in several areas during her life, including rural Osceola, Missouri; Kansas City Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; Dodge City, Kansas; Shawnee Mission, Kansas area in 1970; rural Pomona, Kansas in 1973; moving to Ottawa in 1979, Helen lived her life independently in her home until the age of ninety-three when she moved into the Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in November, 2020 for nine months, then moving to Vintage Park at Ottawa in November, 2021, before residing at Rock Creek of Ottawa in May, 2023. She was well cared for while living at these locations.

Helen graduated from Osceola High School with the class of 1945.

She was united in marriage on June 18, 1949 to Franklin Brown. He preceded her in death on June 26, 1965. Helen was later married to Loren H. Cantrell on May 15, 1970. He also preceded her in death on October 11, 2012.

Helen was employed with JC Penney and the China Hutch.

She was a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren, Ottawa, a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, a member of the Grace Community Fellowship, Ottawa, a member of the Ottawa Promenaders Square Dance Club, a member of the Ransom Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and a volunteer at Hope House.

Helen was a great cook, an avid seamstress, a talented baker, and a “fix it” kind of gal. She was very involved at the church singing in the choir, the Awana club, and vacation bible school. Helen enjoyed making prom and children dresses and liked to travel.

She was preceded in death by husbands Franklin Brown and Loren Cantrell; daughter Karen Brown Thomas; sisters Nadine Wornell, Lorraine Smith, and Marie Stewart; brother Waldo “Bud” Jones; many brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; one niece; and two nephews.

Survivors include daughters Cheryl Brown Griest (Denton) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Linda Cantrell Hess (Steve) of San Tan Valley, Arizona, and Sandy Brown Payne (Don) of Pomona, Kansas; son Kenneth Cantrell (LaDonna) of Ponca City, Oklahoma; son-in-law Freeman Thomas of Lane, Kansas; brothers-in-law Jerry Brown (Liz) of Gilliam, Missouri, and Wayne Brown also of Gilliam, Missouri; sister-in-law Suzy Johnson (Jim) of Tucson, Arizona; eight grandchildren Justin Griest (Katie) of Highland Village, Texas, Kelsey Griest, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Lani Thomas Myer (Mike) of Shawnee, Kansas, Chad Thomas of West St. Paul, Minnesota, Hauna Payne Riley (Nick) of Montrose, Colorado, Kale Payne of Gardner, Kansas, Shawn Spencer of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Alyssa Spencer of Thornton, Colorado; eight great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Grace Community Fellowship or Hope House c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.