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Mary Helen Barton Vanzant, born to Frank and Maurine Barton in 1932 in Bosqueville, TX, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 11, 2015. Her husband Billy W. Vanzant preceded her in death in November 2013. Her sister Margaret Ann Barton of Bastrob TX, two daughters, Valli Ranelle Vanzant Johnson of Lakehills TX and Sabrah Gail Vanzant Hoffman of Boerne TX, two sons-in-law, Burgin Johnson and Steve Hoffman, three grandchildren and three step-grandchildren survive her. Mary Helen graduated from La Vega High School in Bellmead, TX in 1949 where she served as Parliamentarian in the FHA and was a member of the Marching Drill Team. She was popular in school performing in plays and was voted Miss Junior Favorite! She was a talented seamstress and sewed beautiful clothing for herself throughout life. After graduating high school and completing two years of 4C Technical College at 18 years of age, she married Billy W. Vanzant in 1950 and moved to San Antonio, TX, where Billy was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base. She worked for an accounting firm in downtown San Antonio, in the Tower of Life building, and for Civil Service. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force, Billy attended the University of Texas School of Engineering while Mary Helen worked to support them. After Billy's graduation and the birth of their first daughter Valli Ranelle in 1955, the family moved to Houston TX, where Billy worked as an engineer for Shell Oil Company. The family was transferred to Corpus Christi, TX where their second daughter Sabrah Gail was born in 1961. In 1963 Billy took an engineering job at Southwest Research Institute and the family moved to San Antonio, TX, where they raised their girls. Mary Helen kept house and sewed clothing, curtains and dance costumes for Valli's dance recitals and also served as President of the San Antonio Cosmopolitan Garden Club where she had fun being hostess for the San Antonio Tour of homes during the Christmas holidays. She also served as the PTA president at Baskin Elementary and served as Homeroom Mom for several years for her daughter's classes. She made many beautiful crafts that were sold in the Baskin Elementary Carnival Country Store including beautiful dolls with all the beautiful dresses that were given out at the school carnival Doll Walk. So beautiful, in fact, that many times they didn't even make it to auction block as the ladies running it purchased them! She was a wonderful cook and took pride in her fudge recipe that was posted in the San Antonio Express newspaper. It is delicious by the way!! She started her career with the San Antonio Independent School District by working for the Write to Read Program at Baskin Elementary. After a couple of years working for the program, she began as the school secretary for the school principal at Longfellow Jr. High where her daughter Sabrah attended school. When her boss moved to the Area office on the East side of San Antonio, TX, Mary went with her. She worked for various employees of the district before retiring as the secretary for Dr. Rodriguez', the Superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District. She put in many wonderful years before retiring in 1994 and made many loving friends while working for the district. Mary Helen enjoyed her three grandchildren, Jacob, Luke and Savannah Hoffman and after retirement she sewed Halloween costumes, worked crafts and spent wonderful years with them. She has three wonderful step grandchildren, Tracie, Mike and Laura, who called her Grand Mary. She spent time with them as well shopping and cooking etc. Mary Helen loved all animals, especially her puppies. She had many throughout life but her last two, Katy and Jetta who preceded her in death, were the lights of her life. She also fed the deer on a regular basis with the squirrels and birds joining in! Delighted by each and every one, she donated regularly to various animal rescue shelters. She had a fun filled life of 83 years and 63 years of marriage and will be truly missed by many! Until we meet again, love you Mom!

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Mary Helen Barton Vanzant

December 24, 1932 - December 24, 2015