Dewey County Obituary
Sunnyside Cemetery

aka Vici

Lura Diane Helmick (White)

1955?? - 26 Nov 2015

© WOODWARD NEWS
December 1, 2015
(permission granted)
Submitted by: Ann Weber

We celebrate the life of Lura Diane Helmick (White) of Vici, Oklahoma, who was taken from this world suddenly and all too soon on November 26, 2015. Diane was born the 2nd daughter of Ima Jean and Leo Helmick on October 24th, 1955. She grew up north of Vici on the family farm with her beloved father, mother, and sister, Debbie.

Eventually, the family was blessed with a special bundle of joy when Don entered the family via adoption. Her grade school and high school years were spent in Vici Public School where she graduated in 1973. Diane was an exceptional basketball player and was honored as an All-State guard, making her the first female athlete to achieve such an honor from Vici.

Upon graduation from high school, she went to Bethany, Oklahoma where she attended Bethany Nazarene College from 1973 to 1976 before transferring to West Texas State University where she would obtain her Bachelors Degree in Nursing in 1979. She began working as Registered Nurse from that day forward and would continue throughout the duration of this life.

Her entire life was spent caring for others, including her three sons, which were the loves of her life. She was blessed with twins November 12, 1982 when Craig and Chris entered this world to her absolute delight. Little sleep and lots of late night feedings would ensue, but she always said she wouldn’t have traded it for the world. Her trio would be completed on January 7th, 1986 when Cory entered the world. He was dramatically flown to Oklahoma City due to illness. She was ill herself, but all she could ask was if he was okay. That’s all Diane ever cared about from the beginning to the end, “are my kids ok?”.

As her children grew, so did her devotion to them. She never missed a basketball or baseball game when any of them were playing. Eventually, this would spill over to her beloved Thunder. We all knew when the Thunder were on TV, mom would be “detained.” We also all knew that the farm life was what she loved. She, like her father before her, did not believe in skinny cows. After her children graduated from high school, she spent the next years working diligently, often two or three jobs to put them each through school. The family would continue to grow to include two exceptional daughters-in-law that she loved dearly, Jade and Becca. She was blessed with her first grandchild when Koda Leo was born January 17, 2014 and again on September 3, 2015 when Jaylee Marie arrived. Her grandchildren quickly became a new favorite pastime. Beyond her devotion to her children, she was whole-heartedly involved with her church, the Vici Church of the Nazarene, where she was a longtime member. Her participation throughout her years included church pianist, director of Caravans, Women’s Ministry director, board member, music committee, and money counter. Her desire for her children and anyone she encountered was to know the love of her savior, Jesus Christ.

Diane is survived in death by her three sons, Craig White and wife Becca of Durham, NC; Chris White of Milwaukee, WI; Cory White and wife Jade and their two children, Koda and Jaylee of Vici, OK; one sister, Debbie Clinesmith and husband Mike of Perkins, OK; several nieces and nephews; and one sole surviving uncle Ron Mercer and wife Yvonne of Bethany, OK she was lucky enough to see prior to her passing. She leaves behind a score of other additional extended family, friends, and co-workers from the Woodward Hospital where she worked for over 30 years. There is a definite void left behind at her passing. We love you, Mom and thank you for your sacrifices. You’ve made us who we are. Don’t worry, your cows and dogs are fine and in good hands. Until we see you again…

Funeral services were held Monday November 30, at 2:00 pm at the Church of the Nazarene in Vici, OK, with interment at the Sunnyside Cemetery in Vici, OK under the direction of Shaw Funeral Home in Vici, OK