Helen Marie Wade

Helen Marie (Gaddis) Wade was born June 27, 1931, to Avery “Red” and Mildred (Smith) Gaddis near Astoria, Missouri, and passed away with her son by her side on March 14, 2019, at Mercy in Springfield, Missouri. She was 87 years, 8 months, and 17 days of age.

Helen’s mother died when Helen was six years old, so she and her younger siblings lived with their grandmother, Nettie Smith. Times were hard in the thirties but they grew their own food and were never hungry.

On January 11, 1947, she married the love of her life, Melvin Wade. In the early years of their marriage, they would go to the state of Washington to pick fruit and vegetables. In 1951, they bought a farm close to Manes, Missouri, and lived around Manes the rest of their lives. On January 1, 1955, they had a New Year’s baby boy, Randy, their only child.

Helen worked as a mail carrier, an assistant postmaster, and as a farmer, but her favorite job was helping others. Anytime someone needed a ride or help of any kind, she would be there. Her favorite hobbies were gardening and growing beautiful flowers.

Helen started going to the First Free Will Baptist Church in Mountain Grove and was saved and joined the church in 1957. From that time until she started getting sick, she never missed a Sunday. At one time, she hadn’t missed a Sunday in over twenty years. She served as Sunday School Secretary for over fifty years. Helen loved the Lord and enjoyed life. She always had a beautiful smile even when she didn’t feel like it.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Red and Mildred Gaddis, her step-mother, Dorothy Gaddis, whom she loved for 75 years, her husband, Melvin Wade, in 1985, her brother, Freddie Gaddis, and her sisters, Twyla Gaddis and Irene Hile.

She is survived by her son, Randy Wade, one brother-in-law, Edwin Wade of Oklahoma, one sister-in-law, Barbara Wade of Mountain Grove, Missouri, her cousin, Junior and Arlene Brill whom she claimed as her brother and sister, a cousin, Sue Kidwell who was very special to her, one brother-in-law, Edwin Wade, one sister-in-law, Barbara Wade, a special friend, Betty Gafford whom she loved to talk to on the phone, several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Helen loved the Lord, enjoyed life, and smiled through all of her pain and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.