Helen Frances Crane

Helen Frances Crane, age 89, went peacefully to be with her loving Savior on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 with her family united by her side. Helen Frances was the first born child to Reverend Archie Randall Nichols and Mary Frances (McBurney) Nichols on August 3, 1924. Five other siblings followed; Florence, Paul, Betty, Melvin and Walter. Helen grew up in a Christian home, and lived in numerous places throughout Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas, as her father, Reverend Archie Nichols moved his family wherever his Evangelistic ministry with the Assembly of God Church, needed him. Helen had many fond memories of following her father to the various places he was called to minister. Finally the Nichols family settled in Severy, Kansas where Helen graduated from Severy High School in 1942. Helen met and married Max William Crane on April 4, 1943, in Severy, Kansas. Helen and Max were blessed with five children, Terry, Ross, Billy, Patsy and Rodney. The family lived in the Severy area for many years, where they ran a dairy farm. Helen’s family was her first priority. She loved her home and spent many hours in the kitchen preparing meals for her husband, children and farm hands who had spent hours working on their dairy farm and in the fields. Helen had a special ability to take a small amount and make a gourmet meal, where no one ever went hungry. After a tragic farming accident left her husband, Max paralyzed, she never gave a second thought as to what she should do. She organized the family and farm hands together they continued to make sure the Dairy Farming went on as usual. With that load, she, alone, also took care of her husband, Max, at their home until he passed away several years later of other complications. After the death of Helen’s husband, she decided to sell the farm. She lived and worked as a cook in a nursing home in Howard, KS for a short time, spent several years with her sister Betty, in Borger, TX and in 1982 moved with her oldest son, Terry, to Eureka Springs, AR. That started a completely new adventure for her. Her son opened up a County Music Show in Eureka Springs “The Country Shindig”, and Helen once again jumped in and was in charge of the Refreshment Stand, along with making sure all the stage clothes for the performers were washed, ironed and ready for the next show. Yet one of her most favorite responsibilities was being a Greeter, to the guests who came to see the show. Helen’s role in The Country Shindig was invaluable. Helen continued to live in Eureka Springs, where she was an avid member of the Faith Christian Family Church pastured by Rev. Gary Hayhurst. She was one of the earliest members, and had become the oldest member of the church. In 2012, Helen moved to Valley Center, KS where she resided with her son, Terry and his wife. Helen finally had to be moved to the Kansas Christian Nursing Home, Newton, KS where she lived the rest of her life. Helen is survived by her children, Terry Kent Crane and wife Charlotte, Valley Center, Kansas; Billy Joe Crane and wife Deanna, Eureka Springs, Arkansas; Patsy Diann Lanning and husband Bill, Howard, Kansas and Rodney Lynn Crane of Niantic, Illinois, 16 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren, brothers, Walter Nichols and wife Barbara and Melvin Nichols, sister-in-laws, Joyce Crane Posh, Juanita Morrison Nichols, brother-in-law Albert Myer, along with nieces, nephews and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Max, son Ross Dean Crane, sisters, Florence Richardson and Betty Myer and brother Paul Nichols. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 28, 2014 at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time. Interment will follow at South Lawn Cemetery in Severy. Family visitation and luncheon will be held at the Methodist Church in Severy following the burial and family and friends are welcome. Memorials may be made to either the Faith Christian Family Church in Eureka Springs, AR or Flint Hills Assembly of God in Howard. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Countryside Funeral Home in Howard.

Helen Frances Crane

August 3, 1924 - March 25, 2014