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© Marietta Monitor
12 Feb 2021, Page 4
Helen was born on April 23, 1928 in Rush Springs to Rube and Lula Harris. She was raised on the Red River near Thackerville by a pioneering family during the Great Depression. She learned the importance of doing your best, working hard and persevering. She shared those traits with her children, but also taught them what love was and how to celebrate life with singing and dance. Helen entered rodeos in her youth, barrel racing on borrowed horses. Her senior year, she was a star player on Marietta’s girls basketball team when they won the 1946 State Championship. She could still make underhand free throws into her 80’s.
She moved to California as a newlywed to Don Spence, but could never leave Love County behind. She would move back and forth between California and Oklahoma nine times throughout her life and planned to move back even after her health failed. With her husband Don, she owned and operated the Roundhouse Café in the late 50’s and early 60’s, before, once again, moving to California. After returning back to Marietta in the late 60’s, she opened Helen’s Hair Styling and Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio. Beauticians throughout the county have credited her for helping raise their standard of living by leading the way with improved rates and progressive working conditions.
Helen fought for women’s and workers’ rights before the movement reached Love County. She worked 92 years to be the best she could be and has left those she touched better off for having known her.
Helen was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Capo Beach, California, where her grandson Jonathan Moersch was her pastor. She always had a love for Marietta and will return one final time to be laid to rest in the Marietta Cemetery, with her momma and daddy, per her request.
She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Doc Harris, Jo McKay, and Minerva Calhoun; and three husbands, Don Spence, Wilton Davenport and Ray Burkhart.
Survivors include her children, Donna Kittelson, John Spence, and Sondra Moersch; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews who still reside in Oklahoma.
Contributor's comment: This obituary included photos of Mrs. Burkhart in her basketball uniform and a more recent photo. She is still as beautiful as the last time I saw her and has her beautiful smile
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