Helen G. Cronin

Helen G. (Riggs) Laird-Cronin, 91, of Lebanon, Tennessee passed away Saturday, November 16, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, November 23, 2013 at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Family will meet with friends from 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. Friday, November 22, 2013 at the mortuary. Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas Helen Gracie Riggs was born on Thursday, November 16, 1922 in rural Mountain Grove, Missouri. She was the daughter of Maynard and Bertha (Matlock) Riggs. There were three brothers, Joseph Edward, William Thomas, and Noble Ray, and one sister, Bernice Elaine. The family moved to Tarkio, Missouri in 1926. She attended Central School, a one room country schoolhouse and then Tarkio High School, Tarkio, Missouri, graduating with the class of 1941. In 1942 Helen was married to Harland Gillett in Stanberry, Missouri. They were farmers for several years near Shenandoah, Iowa. From this union four children were born; Harland Wayne, Dennis, Gary and Jeanine. The family moved to the Kansas City area in 1953. They later divorced. In 1964 Helen married Robert Laird in Kansas City, Kansas. They made their home in Kansas City and later Ottawa, Kansas. He preceded her in death on August 3, 1994. She married Raymond Cronin in 1995 in Olathe, Kansas. They later divorced. Helen was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Her years of employment were in the Flight Standards Division at the Downtown Kansas City Airport, where she retired in 1983. She was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, for several years before moving to Lebanon, Tennessee where she was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Helen enjoyed gardening, reading and sewing. She made quilts for all of her children and many other family members. She loved to travel, having visited every state except Alaska. She was a “snowbird” for several years, spending the winters in Mission, Texas. Survivors include her sons, Wayne Gillett of Mc Louth, Kansas, and Dennis Gillett of Rantoul, Kansas; daughter, Jeanine Smith of Lebanon, Tennessee; stepsons, Larry Laird of Kansas City, Kansas, and Michael Laird of Royal Oak, Michigan; stepdaughter, Linda Stocum of Madison Heights, Michigan; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; and two brothers, Joseph Edward and William Thomas Riggs. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert Laird; sister, Bernice Russell; brother, Ray Riggs; son, Gary Gillett; grandson, Ronald Schmitt; and stepsons, Stephen and Leslie Laird. The family suggests memorial contributions to Lebanon Cumberland Presbyterian Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. An online Guest Book is available at www.dengelmortuary.com.