M. Helen Lewis

M. Helen Lewis, 94, of Bloomington died Wednesday evening at Meadowwood Healthcare Pavilion. She was born on July 7, 1915 in Monroe County the daughter of Homer and Hazel (Howe) Curry. A graduate of Bloomington High School, she attended Indiana University and graduated from the former St. Luke’s Hospital (Rush Memorial Hospital) School of Nursing in Chicago as a registered nurse. She began her nursing career at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Hammond, IN. Later she was an office nurse for Dr. Olmstead in Petersburg, IN and worked at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, IN. In 1960 she moved to Bloomington and worked as a school nurse for the Monroe Co. Community School System. Helen was active in the Bloomington community, serving as a volunteer, helped give out the first polio vaccinations and helped neighbors with nursing problems. She took an active role in Bloomington community politics, held leadership positions with Habitat for Humanity, worked with Opportunity House and was a member of Fairview United Methodist Church. One of the things Helen was well known for was her roses. She grew roses and took them every place, to family and to friends. She would take them out to dinner and leave them on the table, obviously for all to enjoy. Some people knew her as the “Rose Lady”. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Stanley and Nayibe Hoggatt of Houston, TX., four daughters and sons-in-law; Janis and Bill Brand of Bloomington, Margaret and Richard Pluth of San Diego, CA, Ruth Lewis Stewart of New York, NY, and Nancy and Lee Jordan of Carmel, IN, step-daughter and step-son-in-law, Nadin and Bob Hill of Ft. Isabell, TX. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Andrew (Angie) Brand, Matt Brand, Christine (Mike) Parker, Rollin Hoggatt, Angela (Michael) Buescher, Megan Pluth, Genell (Chris) Ferrell, Jaclyn (Chris) Gallo, Laura (Steve) Catherwood, Linda Hill, larry Hill and Phillip (Billie) Hill, great grandchildren; Jake Brand, Heather Parker,Brookell Buescher, Drew Buescher, Breanna Buescher and Bethany Buescher, Morgan Ferrell, Christian Ferrell and Brett Hill. In addition, she is survived by two sisters, Charlotte Daniel Brashaber of Bloomington and Hilda Davis of Orlando, FL and one great, great grandchild, Lily. Helen was preceded in death by her first husband, H. Rollin Hoggatt, her second husband, Ralph Lewis, one grandson, William R. Brand, two granddaughters, Marci Lewis and Vicky Hill, one great grandson, Andrew Parker and four sisters, Mary Ann Roll, Virginia Scott, Carolyn Jackson and Emily Cooper. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 15th at Allen Funeral Home, 4155 S. Old St. Rd. 37 with. Interment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery. Friends may greet the family one hour preceding the memorial service. Memorial contributions may be made to “Habitat for Humanity” in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenfuneralhome.org.

Tributes

M. Helen Lewis

July 7, 1915 - March 10, 2010