Obituary of Helen Cherry Babcock

Helen Cherry Babcock passed from this earthly life in the wee hours of the morning on August 30, 2023, with family by her side. She was one month and 5 days short of her 86th birthday. A serious fall resulted serious head injury from which our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, did not recover. Although she lived a full and meaningful life, we mourn the loss of such a wonderful and beautiful person.

Born at 10 Logan Drive, in Paisley, Scotland on October 5, 1937, Helen was the youngest child of John and Helen Cherry Weir. World War II started just before her second birthday and her father was sent off to fight in the war. Helen’s mother was unable to care for the children at the time so from age three through age eight, Helen and her sister, Ina, were sent to live in the Bridge of Weir Orphanage. After that Helen went to live with one aunt and then another, until the time her father came home from the war. The family was then able to get a council house at 4 Whiteford Road, in Paisley. As a young teenager, Helen minded the house and took care of her dad. She left school at around age 16 to find work.

Helen worked at the Paisley Thread Mill and later at a local hardware store. Around that time, two missionaries knocked at her door and introduced her to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Helen was baptized in 1956. Her love for the church inspired her to immigrate to America. On August 29, 1960, she landed in New York, and then went on to Salt Lake City. She wanted to be where the Mormons were.

Shortly after arrival in Utah, Helen met the man who would become her husband, Lowell Francis Babcock. They were married and within the year, Helen had given birth to her son, David Anthony. Over the next few years, the couple desired more children but Helen sadly, miscarried four babies. In 1963, a 6th pregnancy resulted in the birth of her daughter, Allison Jacqueline. She was two months premature, but she survived. Wanting more children, but being advised against it by doctors, Helen and Lowell adopted a baby girl at 4 days old – Leanna Kimberly. Helen had often said that the best times of her life were when her children were small. She enjoyed other things in life as well. She played the guitar; Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooly was one she played first the minute she picked that guitar up. She loved to sing. Back in Scotland, she once surprised her dad when he came to listen to watch her perform. He had no idea she was that good. She often sang in church and at various events. She once sang on live TV during an airing of the local Utah show called The Talent Showcase in the mid-sixties.

Helen loved to dance, and for several years taught Scottish Country Dancing in the basement of their Sandy, Utah home. Helen’s group, The Glengarry Dancers, traveled and performed at Rodeos and at fairs throughout the western states including Utah and Wyoming. Her Scottish heritage was always very meaningful to her, and she flew back to visit her family every five years or so and still has many nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews, back home in Scotland, who loved their Auntie Helen.

In 1975, Lowell moved the family to Washington State. They lived for a short time in Federal Way, then in Auburn, and finally nestled down in Buckley where they built their dream house on the Cawley Airstrip so her husband Lowell could have his airplane right outside their door. And Helen gave their house a name, as many homes are named in Scotland. She chose: Dun Rovin. Helen enjoyed serving in many callings in her church. She held the role of Chorister in Sacrament Meeting in Scotland as well as in Buckley for many years, she was a wonderful Ward Music Chairman and Choir Director, putting on many Ward Christmas programs, working with her beloved friend, Julia Wentz, at the piano.

She served as Primary President, was the director of two Road Shows, worked in the Relief Society in several capacities including Spiritual Living Teacher, First Counselor to the President, and Secretary. Helen made a career out of being a server of people. She enjoyed the Restaurant business and worked many years as a very efficient head waitress for several restaurants, while continuing to be a supportive wife and loving mother to her three growing kids. Much later, when the three had grown up and got married, Helen and Lowell became foster parents to a newborn baby named Arlin John whom they officially adopted when he was four years old. She enjoyed being a homemaker. She sewed many dresses for the girls and for herself. She created draperies for her living room, upholstered her own furniture, wall-papered rooms like a pro and loved painting, crafting, and re-decorating the inside of her home. Plus, she planted gorgeous gardens and flower beds all around the outside. Home was always a beautiful and comfortable space for her family.

Holidays were special to Helen, especially when her nine grandchildren came along. Easter Scavenger Hunts and beautifully set tables for family get-togethers were Helen’s specialties. She adored her grandchildren and always tried to make things special for them. She loved having one on one talks with them when she could.

Helen lost her dear husband, Lowell, a day before their 43rd wedding anniversary. He was the love of her life. In time, she met and married twice but these did not last long as no one seemed to compare to her Lowell. She changed her name back to Babcock and was quite independent until the end, although she did get lonesome sometimes.

Helen’s final years were spent in Puyallup in Puyallup where she made wonderful friends, and where two of her children lived close by. She always loved it when any of her kids or grandkids would pop in to say hello. She treasured her time out with family shopping or going to have Pizza.

Helen’s love for the Savior was evident all her life. As a Methodist growing up, and then while magnifying her callings after joining the Mormon church, she had shown her love for Him in the way she cared for people, the way she talked to little children and genuinely loved them, how she gave to others without expecting anything in return, and how she forgave, and thought the best of people. She prayed for her family and loved ones often. Helen always loved Christmas time, and the Christmas Story. She would recite it from memory each Christmas Eve when all the family would get together to celebrate.

In 2014 Helen started writing a story about the missing years of the life of Jesus Christ. She pondered ideas for this little book for years. Finally, after pouring hours of imagination and her special Scottish narrative style into it, daughter Allison and daughter-in-Law Sandy stepped in to help. It seemed to take them forever to get it edited and illustrated for her. Helen just wanted to share her little story with her friends and family before she died!! (said jokingly). She got her wish. What a blessing it was to be able to have Helen’s little story about the life of The Lord Jesus Christ printed and in paperback in July of 2023. It would be only six short weeks later that she’d meet Him face to face.

Helen was predeceased by her beloved husband, Lowell Francis Babcock and by her daughter, Leanna Kimberly Bennett. She is survived by her three surviving children, David Anthony Babcock (Sandy North Babcock), Allison Jacqueline Crandall, and Arlin John Babcock, eight grandsons, one granddaughter, two great grandsons and one great granddaughter. May this lovely Scottish Lassie rest in peace.