Helen Lemons Wells

Helen Lemons Wells, 104, of Dallas and formerly of Pampa, died November 23, 2016 in Dallas. Memorial services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 29, 2016, at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel in Pampa, with Rev. Elizabeth Abraham, Hospice of Lubbock chaplain, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Helen Margaret Lemons was born March 26, 1912 in Panhandle to Mabel and Charles R. Lemons. The second oldest of five children, she helped her parents on the farm during her youth. In the midst of the Great Depression, Helen graduated from Panhandle High School and attended Amarillo College. She became a secretary with Santa Fe Railroads and Magnolia Oil Company in Amarillo, and helped her two younger brothers with their college studies in the evenings. Helen married Winfred W. Wells on November 19, 1938. They had two daughters, Judy Wells Richards and Jane Wells McDaniel. While Winnie was serving in the U. S. Navy during World War II, Helen and Judy lived in Panhandle. In 1947, the family moved to White Deer and in 1954 to Pampa where they built and owned Hi-Land Fashions until their retirement. The Wells’ were members of First United Methodist Church in Pampa. Their retirement years were enjoyed in Fallbrook, California. In 1999, they moved to Dallas in order to be closer to their daughters. Helen always enjoyed any activity involving a needle and thread. She knitted her own dresses in the 1940’s, and she made all her daughters’ clothes, until Hi-Land Fashions became her career. She dressed many infants, children and women in the store on Hobart Street. In retirement years, Helen began quilting, stitchery, and continued knitting. Her last project, after she became blind with age-related macular degeneration, was knitting caps for Parkland Hospital’s prenatal infants. She won awards for “Best of Show” and “First Place” in Texas’ “Art is Ageless” contest in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Helen is survived by her daughters, Judy Richards and husband Tom of Dallas, and Jane McDaniel and husband David of Plano; grandchildren, Kyle Abraham and wife Elizabeth of Lubbock, Ashley Hood and husband Doug of Grapevine, Curtis McDaniel and wife Larisa, and Greg McDaniel, all of Austin; great grandchildren, Elliot and Katherine Abraham of Lubbock, Phillip and Helen Marie Hood of Grapevine, and Evan McDaniel of Austin; and many nieces and nephews. Helen was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Herman Lemons, Ellis Lemons and Robert Lemons; and a sister, Rosalie Lemons Austin. In lieu of flowers, you may send memorials to: National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 3350 Olsen Blvd, #1700, Amarillo, Texas 79109; or Presbyterian Communities and Services Foundation, 6100 Colwell Blvd, Suite 225, Irving, Texas 75309.