Helen Devaney

Helen Devaney, 97 of Glenns Ferry, passed away Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, at North Canyon Medical Center in Gooding, Idaho. Services will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, with a viewing from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Funeral services begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Glenns Ferry Methodist Church, and burial will follow at the Glenn Rest Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home.

Helen was born on July 14, 1918, to Charles E. and Flora Farris in Calumet, Mich. Helen moved with her family to Nampa, Idaho, in 1922 then to Glenns Ferry in 1926. Helen attended Glenns Ferry High School, played on the basketball team and graduated class of 1937.

After high school Helen attended Nurses' Training in Pocatello, Idaho, but was too homesick to finish and returned to Glenns Ferry.

Helen married M. Lee Lantz and had a son, Charles. Helen and Lee were divorced, and Helen later married Con Devaney and had three daughters, Connie, Gracie and Ednah Kay.

Helen worked as a waitress for the Commercial Cafe and Hanson's Cafe. She also worked for the Union Pacific Railroad watering and cleaning passenger cars and riding her bike around, calling crews. After her divorce, Helen spent many years babysitting children in her home on Garfield Street so she could stay home with her own kids.

This resulted in half of Glenns Ferry calling her Aunt Helen or Grandma. One of those children, Raymond Adaki, was dropped off for babysitting at six weeks old, stayed and became a part of our family.

Helen retired at age 72 and moved to Kuna in 2010 to be closer to family. She moved back to Glenns Ferry in 2014.

Helen is survived by her daughters, Connie Devaney of Edmonds, Wash.; Gracie Devaney of Glenns Ferry, Idaho; son Raymond Adaki of Columbus, Ohio; eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by both parents; her son, Charles; and her daughter; Ednah Kay; her brother, Charles; and her sisters, Grace and Mae.

People who knew Helen knew that she was a force of nature. She was fiercely independent and dedicated to her family. She was also dedicated to the Glenns Ferry Community.

If someone needed help, Helen was the first in line, usually with pounds of homemade candy, hand made baby clothes or home cooked meals. If City Hall was making changes or not making changes, Helen was right there providing her opinions.

She will be missed by her family and friends but never forgotten.