Helen Towell

Helen Marie Towell, 80, died peacefully at 8:27 p.m., Sunday, April 21, 2019 at Jerseyville Manor Nursing Home after years of declining health.She was born in Saint Louis, Missouri on August 15, 1938, one of four children born to Henry and Helen (Folk) Dilport.A St. Louis native, Helen worked early in life at the Johansen Bros. Shoe Company in  St. Louis, in addition to various other occupations.  Her most important title however, was that of Wife and Mother.  She devoted her life to be a loving and Godly Mother.   Humble by nature, she was good listener as well as a great friend.  She truly possessed a servant's heart and her home was open to all.  She is, and will always continue, to be missed.She struggled for over 30 years with the debilitating effects of Multiple Sclerosis, and seemed to always be torn between fighting to survive for her families sake or submitting to the illness in order to go home to be with her Saviour, the Lord Jesus.The decision has been made, and she is currently rejoicing in Heaven with the reward she was promised, and eagerly anticipated.She married Charles Towell on April 7, 1956 at the First Baptist Church in Grafton, and together their married life spanned 57 years, and the rewards of raising their five children, until his death on December 12, 2013.Surviving are her five children and their spouses, Carrie Renken of Otterville, Charles Edward Towell, Curtis and Katie Towell all of Grafton, Peggy Pace of Elsah, and Melissa and Jeff Muntz of Grafton; 14 Grandchildren, Amanda, Christian, Timothy, Andrew and Joseph Renken, Charles Towell, Heather (Towell) Utterback, Gregory, Daniel and Lauren Towell, Cassandra (Pace) Warren, Kourtney Pace, and Jessica and Faith Muntz; six great grandchildren, Alexis, Aleigha and Austin Towell , Ryeleigh Bertman, and Ravyen and Legend Utterback; as well as two brothers, Henry Dilport of Washington, Mo., and Jess Dilport of Ft. Wayne, In.In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kelsey Pace on January 6, 2003; a son in-law, Timothy Renken on July 17, 2017; and a sister, Janet Freeman.Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.Funeral Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Otterville Southern Baptist Church in Otterville, with Rev. William Hendricks officiating.She will be laid to rest in the Noble Cemetery in Otterville.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home