Helen L. Witcher

Helen L. Witcher

July 21, 1917 ~ February 7, 2015

Helen L. Witcher, age 97, of Montrose took the Lord’s hand when he called on Saturday morning, February 7, 2015 at Sunrise Creek Assisted Living in Montrose.  Helen was born July 21, 1917 to Lon and Lillie (Burt) Gilbert, on a farm near Sharon, Oklahoma.  She grew up in a house with three brothers, but she held her own and was the apple of her father’s eyes.  Helen married her husband Claude November 16, 1936 in Oklahoma.  After 56 years of marriage, Claude passed away on February 2, 1996 in Montrose.  Following his death, Helen sold her home and moved to Montrose to be closer to her daughter Donna Gardner.  Helen and Claude had lived in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Delta, Colorado before moving to Montrose, where she made her home until her time of death.

Helen was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Montrose and was an active member at the Nazarene Church in Delta, when she was a resident there.  She came from a “praying family” and served as Sunday school secretary for 43 years and as mission president for four years.

Surviving family members include her daughter, Donna (Duane) Gardner of Montrose; three grandchildren Larry (Lori) Gardner of Vail, Arizona, Cindy Chuchuru  of Montrose, granddaughter-in-law Diane Gardner of Bayfield, Colorado; three great-grandchildren Christa and Sean McMahon of Durango, Colorado, and Caitlin Gardner of Seattle and Chandler Gardner of Fort Collins, Colorado; 3 nieces Mona Lou (Dude)  Mills of Montrose, Judy Pratt of Montrose and Marlene (Mike) Amos of Grand Junction, Colorado; one nephew Paul (Lynn) Gilbert of Wyoming; and sister-in-law Fern Schmalz of Grand Junction, Colorado: several great nieces and nephews. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brothers, Charley, Raymond and Eldon Gilbert and grandson Darrell Gardener

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, February 12th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, February 13, 2015 at 10:30 A.M. at First Church of the Nazarene, with Nephew Rev. Paul Gilbert and Pastor Buddy Cook officiating.  Interment will follow the service at Delta Municipal Cemetery in Delta.  Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, Montrose, Colorado