Obituary of Helen Newcomb

Helen Marie (Shimek) Newcomb was born on March 7, 1929 in Bill, Wyoming to Edward and Dora (Mabin) Shimek. She was the fifth, of eleven children. Helen grew up in Niobrara County around Lusk, Wyoming. She remembers going to town to take care of an elderly lady as one of the jobs she had as a young girl. She graduated from Lusk in 1947 with 47 students in her class. She always thought it ironic that she graduated from LSH and all her children graduated from LHS just Limon not Lusk. Helen met Herman Newcomb in Lusk Wyoming where they were married on the 3rd of April in 1948. Into this union were born 6 children: Morris, Ramona, Mike, Marty, Marianne and Danny. They were on the way to Texas in the fall of 52, with Albert and Lucille Newcomb (Herman’s brother) and family. They left Lusk to work the fruit and vegetable harvests, the car broke down just outside of Limon on Highway 71. While they were waiting for parts for the car Herman got a job painting the Seal’s Truck Station. While he was doing the painting John Seal offered him a job at the station. Helen worked at different jobs over the years including Midwest Motel, Evergreen Nursing Home the local bakery and for many year at the Love Funeral Home. She also cleaned homes for some of the elderly ladies in Limon. Helen never knew a stranger she would talk to anyone who would listen especially about her children or grandchildren. She loved to watch and feed birds, to read, plant gardens. She did embroidery work and sewing making quilts for all her children. She loved to listen to and sing along with Christian and country music. Rayanne remembers having tea parties with her grandma with melted cinnamon red-hots making up the tea. When Zane, Helen’s Great grandson was about 2 he would be telling Grandma things and Helen would say “Oh my gracious”. So Zane’s name for her is Grandma Oh My Gracious. Landen has carried on that name. Helen passed away on December 20, 2014 in Brush Colorado. She will be greatly missed. Helen is preceded in death by her parents, husband Herman, sons Morris and Danny, daughter Ramona Hansen, granddaughter DeAnna Creel, great grandson James and three sisters and three brothers. Helen is survived by her sons; Mike Newcomb of Spokane WA and Marty and Gloria Newcomb of Limon, daughter, Marianne and Ray Johnson of Limon, brother, Roy Shimek of Wyoming, sisters: Daisy and Harold Mundschenk of Sun City West, AZ, Mary Jo and Jim Richardson of Reidsport, OR, and Bertha and Dale Johnson of Grand Prairie, TX, 7 grandchildren 7 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.