GREENE – Helen Slawson Root, 86, Harbor Road, Greene, died peacefully at the NYS Veterans’ Home in Oxford on Friday, June 13, 2008.
She was born on June 20, 1921 in Carmel (Mansfield), Louisiana to Joseph Albert Hall and Mamie Hunter Slawson. She was a homemaker and business woman, a loving mother, grand-mother and great-grand mother, devoted to her family. She will be greatly missed by all.
She is survived by her six children: Beth (Root) and Don King, Little Rock, Ark.; Bob and Nancy Root, Greene; Kenna (Root) and John Payne, Richmond, Va.; Katha Root, Greene; Karen (Root) and Bruce Caldwell, Peekskill, and Jim and Elizabeth Root, West Olive, Mich. She is also survived by two sisters: Jimmie (Slawson) and Floyd Lewis, Maryville, Tenn. and Beth (Slawson) Bartlett, Richmond, Va.
Surviving grandchildren are: Rebecca King, Oakton, Va.; Matthew and Christy King, Springdale, Ark., Kathryn King, Fayetteville, Ark., Amy Root, Greene; Robert, U.S. Army stationed in Kansas City, Kansas and Sara Root, U.S. Army stationed in Bagdad, Iraq, Meghan and Marc Leduc, U.S. Army stationed in Germany; Sara Caldwell, Peekskill; Jessica Root, Cooperstown; Kenneth W. Root III, Cooperstown, and Eliza and Emeline Root, West Olive, Mich. She is survived by four great-grandsons: Robbie and Sterling Root, Nate Leduc and Caleb King. She is survived by two brothers-in-law: Charles and Ruth Root, Cooperstown, and Harry Ekern, Seattle, Washington.
She was pre-deceased by her husband, Kenneth W. Root, Jr. in 1968, two sisters, Lyn Willow Ekern of Seattle, Washington and Barbara Patton of Norwich, New York; brother-in-law Malcolm Root of Cooperstown, New York and sister-in-law Susan (Root) and John Fryling also of Cooperstown.
Helen graduated with a degree in Business from Louisiana State Normal College in 1941. She met and married Kenneth W. Root, Jr. in May, 1942 at Barksdale Field in Shreveport, Louisiana. They moved to Greene in July 1955 and took pride in raising a family of 6 children at home on the dairy farm. Helen was a very active member of the Congregational Church in Greene, participating in Couples Club, Sunday School, Deacons and Women’s Fellowship. Hobbies included cross-word puzzles, learning about art and architecture, sewing, cooking, and traveling throughout the U.S. and Europe with her children and sisters. She enjoyed spending time with her family and keeping up with their many activities!
The family would like to thank each and every staff member at the Vets’ Home for their loving and compassionate care of Helen for the last year and a half.
A memorial service and celebration of Helen’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 6 at the First Congregational Church in Greene. Memorial contributions to honor her may be sent to the First Congregational Church in Greene.
Arrangements are provided by Kennedy Funeral Home in Greene.