Gladys Elizabeth Helton, of Meta, was born on January 7, 1924, in Maries County, a daughter of Thomas Fredrick "Fred" and Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (Copeland) Renfrow, and departed this life at 9:37 a.m., on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, in the Capital Region Medical Center, Jefferson City. She had attained the age of 95 years, 1 month, and 6 days.

Mrs. Helton was united in marriage on February 21, 1942, at Steelville, to Vernon Clay Helton, and to this union, five children were born.

She and her husband, Vernon, had accepted Jesus Christ as their Personal Savior, and they were baptized at the same time in the early 1940's by Bro. Earl Jones in the Little Tavern Creek.  Mrs. Helton was a member of the Camp Ground Christian Church, VanCleve, where she had been the Treasurer of the church for over 20 years, was a Sunday school teacher, and was the first female to serve as a trustee of the church.  She was a proud Democrat and had served as the Maries County Democrat Committee Woman for Boone Township, was a 4-H Leader, and enjoyed gardening, crocheting, sewing, farming, and haying with her husband on her Super C International/Harvester tractor.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mrs. Helton include:  Her children, Brenda Corrigan (Mike) of St. Peters; Danny Helton (Nancy) of  Brinktown; Beth Besche (Jim Hill) of Jefferson City; Tammy Helton (Brent Archdekin) of Overland Park, Kansas; and Jayne Williams (Denny) of Belle; nine grandchildren, Amy Benga (John) of St. Peters; Abby Corrigan (Nick) of  St. Peters; Amber Hayes (Justin) of Alton Illinois; Matthew Helton (Samantha) of Meta; Samuel Helton (Sheena) of Meta; Nicole Buckley of Jefferson City; Angela Hill of California; Terra Hill of  Brumley; and Michael Hill of Cuba; seventeen great-grandchildren, Liz, Aidan, Gavin, Carter, Ivory, Hank, Zoey, Preston, Deidra, Justin, Samantha, Michael, Cooper, Saida, Josef, Kadence, and Kelly; two great-great-grandchildren, Raelyn and Rowan; brother-in-law, Lawrence Grant of  Rolla; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon, on March 5, 2008; one granddaughter, Kelly Hill, on September 3, 2010; her father, Fred, on June 19, 1984; her mother, Betty, on December 27, 1970; and two sisters, Olive Wilson (Leonard) on November 29, 2008, and Leola Grant on October 12, 2004.

Visitation for Mrs. Helton will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., on Sunday, February 24, 2019, followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m., in the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, 406 South Main Street, Vienna, Missouri 65582, with Bro. Manual Seaton, Camp Ground Christian Church, Meta, officiating.

Interment will be in the Vienna Public Cemetery, Vienna, under the direction of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home in Vienna. Pallbearers for Mrs. Helton will be Junior Wilson, Ronnie Woody, Ted Williams, Michael French, Kenny Wyss, and  Bryan Parker, and honorary pallbearers will be Jim Hill, John Benga, Brent Archdekin, Matt Helton, Denny Williams, Mike Corrigan, Sam Helton, and Joe Grant.

Memorial contributions in memory of Mrs. Gladys Helton are suggested by her family to the Camp Ground Christian Church Building Fund with envelopes available at the funeral home or in care of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 250, Vienna, Missouri  65582.

On line condolences may be shared with the family of Mrs. Gladys Helton at www.birminghammartinfuneralhomes.com