Obituary: Helen Marie Server

Helen Marie (Strange) Server passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at her home in Prescott Valley, Ariz., with family members at her bedside. She was born in Ely, Nev., on Dec. 27, 1934. Her parents were Robert C. and Margaret L. (Horton) Strange. She graduated from White Pine High School with the class of 1953. She represented her high school as a delegate to Girls State (June 15-22, 1952).

She was working in the White Pine County Clerk's Office when on June 8, 1958, she married her husband of 52 years, Kenneth R. Server of Alturas, Calif., in Ely's Sacred Heart Catholic Church. To this union, seven children were born: Barbara L. Fisher (1959), Jeffrey M. Server (1961), Debra A. Soukup (1963), James A. Server (1965), Karen M. Renn (1970), Aimee N. Server (1976), and Melissa D. Varilek, (1979).

Helen was very active in Prescott Valley's St. Germaine Catholic Church where she was a lecturer, took communion to the homebound, made (sewed) many items for the annual bazaar, volunteered for the adoration chapel and was an active member of the Carmelite organization. She was a volunteer instructor for the Laubach Literacy Organization for 19 years, retiring in 2007. In 2009 she received the Unsung Hero Award from the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors.

Through it all, her most noteworthy accomplishment for which she was immensely proud was bringing seven infants into the world and raising them into young adulthood in a manner that established each as a contributor and credit to the community.

According to her spouse, she had absolutely no desire to sit at the head table or in the front pew. She wanted simply to blend in and travel a path unnoticed and free from praise.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth R. Server; children Barbara L. Fisher (Brian) of Aurora, Colo., Jeffrey M. Server (Tresa) of Parker Colo., Debra A. Soukup and friend David Forrester of Gilbert, Ariz., James A. Server (Betsy) of San Diego, Calif., Karen M. Renn (Tom) of San Francisco, Calif., Aimee N. Server of San Francisco, Calif., and Melissa D. Varilek (Cody) of Goodyear, Ariz.; her sisters, Joan (Strange) Johnson, Salt Lake City, Utah; Mary (Strange) Schneider, Oconomowoc, Wis.; brother, Bob Strange of New Braunfels, Texas; and 13 grandchildren.

Visitation from will be from 5 to 7 p.m., with a rosary at 7 p.m., on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at the Arizona Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel, 8480 E. Valley Road, corner of Navajo and Valley. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 31, 2011, at St. Germaine Catholic Church in Prescott Valley, with burial to follow immediately at Heritage Memory Gardens in Dewey. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society or Saint Vincent De Paul would be appreciated. Arizona Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel assisted the family with arrangements, sign Helen's online guestbook at www.ruffnerwakelin.com.

Information provided by survivors.


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