She married Lowell D. McClanahan in 1972, with whom she resided in both Fort Wayne and Montrose. Widely known as 'The Pie Lady' in Fort Wayne during the 1980's, she participated in the Grabill Fair and Johnny Appleseed festival, where she won numerous awards for her culinary skills, and later became a board member. She enjoyed bowling with friends, dancing to Motown and funk music, listening to jazz, reading, antiquing, and visiting the lakes in and around Indiana and Michigan. She also wrote poetry both privately and which appeared in print.

Helen was preceded in death by siblings Joyce Seney, Bernadeen Workman, Ivan Walters and Nellie Stults. She is survived by her husband Lowell D. McClanahan of Fort Wayne, her children Michael McClanahan of Montrose, Colorado, daughter Angela McClanahan-Simmons and her husband Shane of Glasgow, Scotland, daughter Jennifer McClanahan of Montrose, Colorado, granddog Edison, also of Montrose, granddaughter Madeline McClanahan of Angola, Indiana, niece Jacqueline Stults of Huntington, Indiana, nephew Michael Stults and his wife Julie, of Columbia City, Indiana, as well as numerous friends and family in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Western Colorado and Scotland.

The family would especially like to thank Dr. Ellen Szwed and the Breast Care Team at Parkview Cancer Institute for the compassionate, dignified care they provided for our mom throughout her treatment, as well as the Emergency department at Parkview Regional Medical Center, the staff nurses from Great Lakes Home Health and Inpatient Oncology at PRMC, as well as the hospice staff at Parkview Randallia for helping to make her passing comfortable and peaceful.

Honoring the families wishes there is no public calling or services. Entombment will be in Covington Memorial Gardens Cemetery