HELMS, Irma Ione – of Davison, formerly of Flint, age 90, passed away March 17, 2011 at Clare Bridge of Farmington Hills, MI. A Funeral Service will be held 11 am Monday, March 21, 2011 at Allen Funeral Home, 9136 Davison Rd., Davison; Rev. Debbie Line officiating. Burial will follow in Davison Cemetery. Visitation will be 11 am-8 pm Sunday and 10-11 am Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Irma Morgan-Helms was born on February 20, 1921 in Martinsville, IL to Henry and Rosa Morgan. Growing up on a farm in central Illinois, she graduated from Ridgefarm High School. It was there that she met her future husband, Chester Carl Helms. Their 56-year marriage produced a daughter, Nancy Caroline Helms-Taube and son, Dr. Larry Helms of Medford, Oregon. Irma and Carl left Illinois during the Great Depression and moved to Flint, Michigan where Carl worked at AC Spark Plug. They raised their family on Flint’s East Side before moving to Davison, Michigan in 1962, where they remained for the rest of their lives.

Irma studied with the Chicago Institute of Design and worked in Home Decorating for almost three decades, eventually retiring after 20 years with Advance Electric in Flint. She also attended Flint Community College.

After retiring, Irma was active in various community affairs including volunteering to teach remedial reading to elementary school students in Davison, serving on the Davison Library Board and had a busy and active involvement with the Davison United Methodist Church’s ladies’ circles. An avid and educated collector, she was an acknowledged expert in certain forms of antique glass and jewelry.

Irma devoted her life to her family. She was extremely active in the PTA, child study programs and her children’s school activities. Irma took particular pride in cooking, sewing and passing along those skills to her daughter, Nancy, and later, her two granddaughters. During more than one summer, she even coached her son’s baseball team.

Preceding her in death was her beloved husband, Chester Carl; her daughter, Nancy and a grandson, Michael Joseph Dunn.

Surviving to honor her memory is her sister, Imogene Stimac of Terre Haute, Indiana; son, Dr. Larry Helms; two granddaughters, Carol Giordano and Susan Dunn; grandson, Creighton Helms as well as five great-grandchildren. She leaves an extraordinarily large number of close friends and loving neighbors.

Please share your thoughts with the family at www.allenfuneralhomeinc.com.