Starting Sept. 30, 2014, Genealogy.com will be making a big change. GenForum
message boards, Family Tree Maker homepages, and the most popular articles
will be preserved in a read-only format, while several other features will
no longer be available, including member subscriptions and the Shop.
Gladys Norabelle Shelley (b. February 20, 1923, d. April 09, 2003)
Gladys Norabelle Shelley (daughter of Curtis Shelley and Nora Belle Little) was born February 20, 1923 in Brawley Imperial Co California, and died April 09, 2003 in Selma Fresno Co California. She married (1) Lon Quim Helm on September 08, 1939 in Hanford, Kings Co., California, son of Roscoe Helm and Laura Bell Fuller. She married (2) DeWeese W Stevens on February 14, 1981 in Selma Fresno Co. California.
Notes for Gladys Norabelle Shelley: OBITUARY: GLADYS NORABELLE (SHELLEY) HELM STEVENS February 20,1923 to April 9, 2003 THE FRESNO BEE, FRESNO, CA, Sunday, April13, 2003 Gladys Helm Stevens of Selma CA, passed away April 9, 2003 in Selma. She was born Gladys Norabelle Shelley February 20, 1923 in Brawley, CA. She was preceded in death by husband, Lon Q. Helm in1972, second husband DeWeese Stevens 2001, daughter Carolyn (Helm) Coker Cervantes 1995, father Curtis Shelley 1948, mother Nora (Little) Shelley 1935, and grandson Christian Laikam 1967. Mrs. Stevens lived in Selma since 1927 and attended schools here. She was active on the Helm family farm until 1972. From 1981 until 1989 she owned and operated Creative Copy Center in Fresno with husband, DeWeese. Mrs. Stevens was a member of Cathedral of Light Church in Selma and previously coordinated their Prime Timers Senior Group, and chaired the Greeter program. She also belonged to the Women’s Ministry, and founded the Good Samaritan Mission Willing Workers. Our precious mother was warm, friendly and laughed easily. She grew beautiful flowers and fed wild birds in her yard each day. She was especially proud of her early American pioneer heritage. Gladys is survived by sister, Dorothy Kimbro and her husband Ed of Selma. Children: David and Pat Helm, Barbara Helm and Barney Mendez of Selma; Earl and Pat Helm of Coarsegold; Nora Helm Laikam and stepdaughters Gayle Stevens Davilla, and Cynthia Stevens Downing of Fresno; and niece Linda Barker of Visalia; grandchildren: Leslie Helm, Kim Skidmore, Amber DeCaprio, Lance Coker, Douglas and Tom Navarro, Jason Laikam, Rachelle Helm, and Renee Davis. Eight great-grandchildren also survive her. Funeral services: 10:00 am, April 15, 2003 Cathedral of Light Church, 3200 McCall Avenue, Selma. Interment: Floral Memorial Cemetery in Selma. Remembrances may be made to: Diabetes Association Fresno County, 55 Shaw Ave., Clovis, CA 93612.
MEMORIAL: In Loving Memory of Gladys (Shelley) Helm Stevens. Born: February 20, 1923, Brawley , California. At Rest: April 9, 2003. Selma, California. Funeral Service: Tuesday, April 15, 2003, 10:00 o’clock A.M. Cathedral of Light Church, Selma, California. Officiating: Rev. Charles Harlin. Pianist: Ray Cooper. Soloists: Danny Kenner, Ray Cooper, Nancy Bracamontes. Song Selections: Light House, In the Garden, Leaving on My Mind. Pallbearers: Arlie Rogers, James Horne, Jim Clifton, Mark Clifton, Ray Cooper, Steve Lara. Interment: Floral Memorial Cemetery, Selma
MEMORIAL REMARKS: In Memory of Gladys Helm Stevens - Gladys Helm Stevens of Selma CA, passed away April 9, 2003 in Selma. She was born Gladys Norabelle Shelley February 20, 1923 in Brawley, CA. to Curtis and Nora Shelley. Gladys had older two brothers who preceded her in death, Roy and Francis. Gladys’ sister, Dorthy Kimbro, currently lives in Selma along with her husband, Ed. In 1927, when Gladys was age-4, and her mother, Nora, was pregnant with sister, Dorothy, the family moved to Selma from Brawley, CA. While the girls were still quite young, their much older brothers left to begin their own adventures. In 1935, when Gladys was age-12 and Dorothy age-8, their mother, Nora, passed away. They later recalled that they didn’t realize the difficulty their 54 year old father had at the time until they were older with families of their own. Their father Curtis passed away in 1948. Gladys attended Selma schools and was a member of the Class of 1942 when she left school in 1939 to begin a new journey. In 1939, at age-16, Gladys married Lon Quim Helm, the youngest son from a family with ten children who migrated from Oklahoma to Selma. Gladys met Lon at church. Gladys told her children that she looked up when Lon walked in, and thought he was the most handsome boy she had ever seen. Gladys and Lon had five children: Nora, David, Carolyn, Earl and Barbara. Gladys and Lon, who worked hard all their lives, eventually purchased acreage, where they grew grapes, located at Academy and Huntsman Avenues in Selma and farmed there for many years before Lon’s death in December 13, 1972. In 1981, at age-58, Gladys married widower, DeWeese W. Stevens. DeWeese, an educator, had just retired from his position of Superintendent of Schools in nearby Dinuba. Gladys met DeWeese as she stood at the door greeting church goers here at Cathedral of the Light Church. She often said that he seemed so serious and that she was determined to make him smile. DeWeese had two daughters from his first marriage: Cynthia and Gayle. Gladys and DeWeese purchased a commercial print shop, Creative Copy Center, in Fresno and operated it for over eight years. When they sold the business in 1990, they spent time traveling in their RV. They also were active in Catheral of the Light Church, and its wonderful Christian schoolfounded by DeWeese, and in other community activities. DeWeese passed away April 6, 2001. Mrs. Stevens was a member of Cathedral of Light Church in Selma and previously coordinated their Prime Timers Senior Group, and chaired the Greeter program. She also belonged to the Women’s Ministry, and founded the Good Samaritan Mission Willing Workers. Gladys was always looking for ways she could help the unfortunate and the needy. Gladys was warm, friendly and laughed easily. Her children often told Gladys that she was a bit of a flirt. She grew beautiful flowers where ever she lived and fed wild birds in her yard each day. Gladys, who was especially proud of her early American pioneer heritage. Her ancestors arrived in the east and south in the early 1700’s and even included a family connection to frontiersman, Daniel Boone, which she found amusing. Gladys is survived by sister, Dorothy Kimbro and her husband Ed of Selma. Children: David and Pat Helm, Barbara Helm-Mendez and Barney Mendez of Selma; Earl and Pat Helm of Coarsegold; Nora Helm Laikam and stepdaughters Gayle Stevens Davilla, and Cynthia Stevens Downing of Fresno; and niece Linda Barker of Visalia. Grandchildren: Leslie Helm, Kim Skidmore, Amber DeCaprio, Lance Coker, Douglas and Tom Navarro, Jason Laikam, Rachelle Helm, and Renee Davis. Eight great-grandchildren also survive her. Gladys was also preceded in death by daughter Carolyn (Helm) Coker Cervantes in1995, and grandson Christian Laikam 1967. ............................................. FAMILY: FATHER: CURTIS SHELLEY - born Richwood McDonald Co. MO, died Selma Fresno Co. CA. (Curtis Shelley was the son of Thomas Shelly - born Greene Co. TN, died Fayetteville Washington Co. AR; Mary Elizabeth Love - born Clinton Co. KY, died Richwood, McDonald Co MO. Thomas Shelly was the son of James Shelly and Hannah. Mary Elizabeth Love, was the daughther of James Martin Love and Jane Maloney.)
MOTHER: NORA BELLE LITTLE - born Clark Co. IN, died Selma Fresno Co. CA.
(Nora Belle Little was the daughter of Lewis Samuel Little - born Oldham Co. KY, died Bethleham Clark Co IN; Ida Belle Morgan - born Lawrenceburg Dearborn Co. IN, died Tecumseh Pottawatomie OK [remarried to William Ragan]. Lewis Samuel Little was the son of James Little - born Campbell Co. VA, died KY; Louvica Varble - born Oldham Co. KY, died Louisville Jefferson Co. KY. Ida Belle Morgan was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Morgan - born Lawrenceburg Dearborn Co. IN, died Louisville Jefferson Co. KY; Harriet Elender Coons - born Clark Co. IN, died Louisville Jefferson Co. KY.)
FIRST HUSBAND: LON QUIM HELM - born Okmulgee Okmulgee Co OK, died Selma Fresno Co. CA. (Lon Quim Helm was the son of Roscoe Helm - born TX, died Selma Fresno Co. CA; Laura Belle Fuller - born Conway Faulkner AR, died Selma Fresno Co. CA. Roscoe Helm was the son of James Bryant Helm - born Paducah McCracken Co. KY, died Severe Okmulgee Co. OK; Martha Jane Clement - born TX, died Okmulgee Okmulgee Co. OK. Laura Belle Fuller was the daughter of John Wesley Fuller - born Centre Cherokee Co. AL, died Okmulgee Okmulgee Co. OK; Mary Francis Elizabeth McMurry - born Centre Cherokee Co. AL, died Okmulgee Okmulgee Co. OK.)
SECOND HUSBAND: DEWEESE WINCHESTER STEVENS - born Glendora Los Angeles Co. CA, died Fresno Fresno Co. CA. (DeWeese Winchester Stevens was the son of Preston DeWeese Stevens and Lula Du King Beech.)
More About Gladys Norabelle Shelley: Burial: April 15, 2003, Selma Fresno Co California.
More About Gladys Norabelle Shelley and Lon Quim Helm: Marriage: September 08, 1939, Hanford, Kings Co., California.
Marriage Notes for Gladys Norabelle Shelley and Lon Quim Helm: Spouse one
More About Gladys Norabelle Shelley and DeWeese W Stevens: Marriage: February 14, 1981, Selma Fresno Co. California.
Children of Gladys Norabelle Shelley and Lon Quim Helm are: