Helen Land

HELEN F. LAND

Helen F. Land, age 87, of Kahoka, MO, formerly of rural Canton, MO, died Monday, April 10, 2006, in Keokuk Area Hospital.

She was born November 9, 1918 near Gregory Landing, MO, the only daughter of John H. and Rowena Belle Willet Maddox.

She married Eugene Holt on November 16, 1945 and they were the parents of two children, Thomas and Nancy. He preceded her in death on May 16, 1968. She married W. J. "Joe" Land on August 20, 1971 who preceded her in death on November 19, 1981.

Survivors include a son, Thomas M. Holt, and his wife, Jewel, of Tacoma, WA; a daughter, Nancy Dout of Brunswick, ME; three grandchildren: Teri Campbell, Charles Schermerhorn, and Christopher Holt; four great grandchildren: Andrew Campbell, Courtney Campbell, April Schermerhorn, and Adam Schermerhorn; a sister-in-law, Sarah Land of Wayland, MO; a cousin and her best friend, Faye Maddox of Wayland, MO; as well as nieces and nephews and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Eugene and Joe; a son-in-law, Robert Dout ; and, two brothers, Harold and Wallace Maddox.

Helen graduated from Canton High School and Chillicothe (MO) Business College. Following graduation, she managed restaurant bus stops for Greyhound for several years and spent many years as a waitress in finer restaurants in Washington, D.C., Clearwater, FL, and Orlando, FL. Following her parents' death she returned to the family farm in Clark County, MO, and was employed for several years at the Clark County Nursing Home. She was a member of Bluff Springs United Methodist Church and a former member of the Better Home Builders Extension Club. She enjoyed taking care of her home and raising a large garden.

Funeral services are Friday, April 14, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bluff Springs United Methodist Church with Rev. Debroah Schmidt officiating. Eulogist will be her son, Tom. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Friends can call at Wilson Funeral Home in Kahoka after noon on Thursday with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Bluff Springs United Methodist Church or to the American Cancer Society.