Helen Bryson Stedham passed away peacefully Sept. 7, 2018, with her loved ones by her side as the song “I Can Only Imagine” played in her room. Helen was the eighth of nine children born to Warren and Gertrude Bryson in Centralia, Wash., July 25, 1936.
Helen graduated from Centralia High School in 1954, and six weeks later married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth Stedham. They were married for 31 years before Ken’s passing in 1985. Together they owned “Ken’s Service” in downtown Centralia, which has been lovingly ran by their only son, “Kenny” and his wife, Carmen, since his dad’s passing. Helen also worked and managed the Montgomery Wards store in Centralia and later in the banking business retiring from Key Bank after 35 years. She was a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha where she made life-long friends that faithfully visited her until her passing. She was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles for Women and a member of a tournament bowling team sponsored by the Eagles. She traveled across the United States with her bowling team and loved the friendships of those ladies.
Family and fun is what Helen will be remembered for. She was a loving and supporting mom to her three children, Connie, Diane and Kenny. She was the mom that could always be counted on for “room mother”, scout leader, Scholarship Club member and Sunday school teacher, just to name a few. She passed down the volunteer gene to all her children and they proudly follow in her footsteps. Her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren were some of her proudest and most loved possessions. Her biggest regret when she became ill was that the youngest ones would not remember her, however there are enough “GG” stories to enrich their memories for many years to come. They will remember time spent putting together puzzles and playing cards with their beloved “GG” while she slipped them some kind of tasty "numnums". They knew right where GG’s treat drawer was and knew they never had to ask permission.
Helen loved the outdoors, she was an avid fisherwoman and loved spending time at the beach clam digging. She loved to play BINGO and was able to play her last BINGO game less than a week before her passing. She also loved her trips to the casino, cookbooks, the Gameshow Network, The Food Network and AMAZON prime. She was an accomplished seamstress, loved to cook and bake, bowl and either knit or crocheted many beautiful keepsakes over years.
Helen is lovingly survived by daughters, Connie (Russ) Pickett of Vancouver and Diane (Bill) Jewell of Centralia; son, Ken (Carmen) Stedham of Rochester; youngest sister, Sharon Bryson Morrow of Olympia; and sisters-in-law, Lorna Stedham of Centralia and Audrey Smith of Rochester; grandchildren include Chad (Jacki) Jewell of Centralia, Jessica (Adam) Seay of St. Helen’s, Ore., Sonja (Kevin) Carmichael of Lake Tapps, Cody (Jessica) Jewell of Puyallup, Kenner Stedham of Centralia and Kirsten Pickett of Seattle; GG’s sweeties include Kennadee and Cohen Jewell, Savannah and Lane Jewell and Paige and Baily Carmichael. Helen is also survived by Kim Deitz of Anchorage, Alaska; numerous nieces and nephews who always referred to her as, “Auntie Helen”; along with a multitude of wonderful caregivers and friends at Sharon Care Assisted Living.
Helen’s seven siblings preceding her in death are Dorothy Axlund, Doris Myhr, Fred, Harold, Roy and Ruth Bryson and Jeanette Cheyney; as well as nephew, Dennis Bryson; niece, Cathy Schmidt; and her second husband, Darrell Morton.
The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to the staff of Sharon Care and the staff of Providence Centralia Hospital, Amber Gauthier of Providence Family Medicine, mom’s transporters from AMR (especially Brittney and Wyatt), Dr. Sorum and staff of Capital Radiology, Dr. Osborn and the team of Assured Home Heath & Hospice. The care and love you provided to our mom is appreciated more than you can imagine.
Visitation can be made at Mills and Mills Funeral Home Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Celebration of Helen’s life will be held Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. Interment will be at 10 a.m., at Mountian View Cemetery in Centralia, followed by a celebration of life and luncheon at 12 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1209 N. Scheuber Rd. N. Centralia Pastor Linda Nou will be officiating.
