Artist Helen Shirley (Taylor) Stephenson was born Nov. 5, 1938, in Caldwell, Idaho, to parents Harvey Taylor and Ruth Hanson, joining older siblings, Melvin, Connie, Jerry and Beverly. She spent her formative years in Glide,Ore., where she was valedictorian of the graduating class of 1957 at Glide High School.
Helen wed her high school sweethheart, Buford Eugene "Gene" Polley, Jr. on June 28,1957. They had three children, Lori, Kari and Frank. The family moved to Alaska in 1966, and lived in the cities of Sitka and Haines. The entire family remembers the Alaska year as quite the adventure.
Helen move to Denver with her second husband, Richard Harbaugh, in 1974 and then ended up settling in Coeur d'Alene in 1976. She was office manager for Foss Maritime (formerly Lafferty Transportation) for 30 years.
She became quite an artist, Helen married fellow artist Irving Stephenson in 1991. They were together for over 2 decades, and were proprietors of Wild Birds Unlimited in Coeur d'Alene for several years. Helen enjoyed the company of Irving's chilren Craig (Shannon), Sarah (James Straub) and their families.
Helen spent her last two years in Denver to be close to her oldest daughter Lori and her family.
She was surrounded by her loving family when she passed away in Wheat Ridge, Colo., on Nov. 24, 2014, following an acute illness and 11-day hospital stay. Her grandson Mark Leyba wrote a beautiful song for her that came to him on the morning of her passing, and he was able to sing it to her in her final moments.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Melvin, Connie and Beverly; nephew Chuck Vogt. She is survived and lovingly remembered by her brother Jerry Taylor (Helen Walker) and children and grandchildren,and step-grandchildren, by great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as the Polley and Stephenson families. Helen will be laid to rest with her mother in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Helen wed her high school sweethheart, Buford Eugene "Gene" Polley, Jr. on June 28,1957. They had three children, Lori, Kari and Frank. The family moved to Alaska in 1966, and lived in the cities of Sitka and Haines. The entire family remembers the Alaska year as quite the adventure.
Helen move to Denver with her second husband, Richard Harbaugh, in 1974 and then ended up settling in Coeur d'Alene in 1976. She was office manager for Foss Maritime (formerly Lafferty Transportation) for 30 years.
She became quite an artist, Helen married fellow artist Irving Stephenson in 1991. They were together for over 2 decades, and were proprietors of Wild Birds Unlimited in Coeur d'Alene for several years. Helen enjoyed the company of Irving's chilren Craig (Shannon), Sarah (James Straub) and their families.
Helen spent her last two years in Denver to be close to her oldest daughter Lori and her family.
She was surrounded by her loving family when she passed away in Wheat Ridge, Colo., on Nov. 24, 2014, following an acute illness and 11-day hospital stay. Her grandson Mark Leyba wrote a beautiful song for her that came to him on the morning of her passing, and he was able to sing it to her in her final moments.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Melvin, Connie and Beverly; nephew Chuck Vogt. She is survived and lovingly remembered by her brother Jerry Taylor (Helen Walker) and children and grandchildren,and step-grandchildren, by great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as the Polley and Stephenson families. Helen will be laid to rest with her mother in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Artist Helen Shirley (Taylor) Stephenson was born Nov. 5, 1938, in Caldwell, Idaho, to parents Harvey Taylor and Ruth Hanson, joining older siblings, Melvin, Connie, Jerry and Beverly. She spent her formative years in Glide,Ore., where she was valedictorian of the graduating class of 1957 at Glide High School.
Helen wed her high school sweethheart, Buford Eugene "Gene" Polley, Jr. on June 28,1957. They had three children, Lori, Kari and Frank. The family moved to Alaska in 1966, and lived in the cities of Sitka and Haines. The entire family remembers the Alaska year as quite the adventure.
Helen move to Denver with her second husband, Richard Harbaugh, in 1974 and then ended up settling in Coeur d'Alene in 1976. She was office manager for Foss Maritime (formerly Lafferty Transportation) for 30 years.
She became quite an artist, Helen married fellow artist Irving Stephenson in 1991. They were together for over 2 decades, and were proprietors of Wild Birds Unlimited in Coeur d'Alene for several years. Helen enjoyed the company of Irving's chilren Craig (Shannon), Sarah (James Straub) and their families.
Helen spent her last two years in Denver to be close to her oldest daughter Lori and her family.
She was surrounded by her loving family when she passed away in Wheat Ridge, Colo., on Nov. 24, 2014, following an acute illness and 11-day hospital stay. Her grandson Mark Leyba wrote a beautiful song for her that came to him on the morning of her passing, and he was able to sing it to her in her final moments.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Melvin, Connie and Beverly; nephew Chuck Vogt. She is survived and lovingly remembered by her brother Jerry Taylor (Helen Walker) and children and grandchildren,and step-grandchildren, by great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as the Polley and Stephenson families. Helen will be laid to rest with her mother in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Helen wed her high school sweethheart, Buford Eugene "Gene" Polley, Jr. on June 28,1957. They had three children, Lori, Kari and Frank. The family moved to Alaska in 1966, and lived in the cities of Sitka and Haines. The entire family remembers the Alaska year as quite the adventure.
Helen move to Denver with her second husband, Richard Harbaugh, in 1974 and then ended up settling in Coeur d'Alene in 1976. She was office manager for Foss Maritime (formerly Lafferty Transportation) for 30 years.
She became quite an artist, Helen married fellow artist Irving Stephenson in 1991. They were together for over 2 decades, and were proprietors of Wild Birds Unlimited in Coeur d'Alene for several years. Helen enjoyed the company of Irving's chilren Craig (Shannon), Sarah (James Straub) and their families.
Helen spent her last two years in Denver to be close to her oldest daughter Lori and her family.
She was surrounded by her loving family when she passed away in Wheat Ridge, Colo., on Nov. 24, 2014, following an acute illness and 11-day hospital stay. Her grandson Mark Leyba wrote a beautiful song for her that came to him on the morning of her passing, and he was able to sing it to her in her final moments.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Melvin, Connie and Beverly; nephew Chuck Vogt. She is survived and lovingly remembered by her brother Jerry Taylor (Helen Walker) and children and grandchildren,and step-grandchildren, by great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as the Polley and Stephenson families. Helen will be laid to rest with her mother in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
See more Stephenson or Taylor memorials in:
- Forest Cemetery Stephenson or Taylor
- Coeur d'Alene Stephenson or Taylor
- Kootenai County Stephenson or Taylor
- Idaho Stephenson or Taylor
- USA Stephenson or Taylor
- Find a Grave Stephenson or Taylor
Advertisement
