Helen Ruth Oliver Parrish, age 90, passed away in Texas City, Texas on Saturday, May 10, 2025.  She was surrounded by her daughter Paula Brightwell and husband John, and Paula’s sons Michael, Kevin and Chris Langford.  She was born in Goosecreek, Texas (Baytown) on September 2, 1934 to parents Charles and Addie Lackey.

She grew up in Seabrook, Texas and attended Webster ISD (CCISD) and played the clarinet in the band. This is where she met and married the ever popular cheerleader, R.B. Oliver Jr.   Helen was an all A student; skipping two grades.  She made her profession of faith and was baptized at Central Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas.  She served her home church by teaching Children’s Sunday school, Vacation Bible School as well as attending Tuesday Morning Women’s Visitation.  She served her community as a Brownie/Girl Scout Leader as well as a Room Mother in her daughter’s elementary school.

She also reared her family in Wyoming and Colorado where they all enjoyed weekend cabin stays and tailgate picnics through the Rocky Mountains.  Of course, while we were in the car we would sing Bible songs and show tunes.

Helen was a talented artist and enjoyed painting in her early years. She was a ferocious reader of novels and biographies, frequenting her local library. She joined several Ladies Bowling leagues and was an avid bowler.   She loved dancing and music, especially Elvis Presley.   She was a big fan of Elvis and attended several of his live concerts. She visited his home at Graceland where she met Elvis’ uncle who allowed her and her mother a complementary tour. Helen dearly loved her grandchildren and enjoyed attending “Grandparent’s Day” and their school plays.
Her favorite board games were Scrabble and Trivia Pursuit and she always won.  Her other activities were following a number of professional sports teams such as the Houston Astros, San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets.

When her children were older in school, she worked selling Stanley Products, Mary Kay Products, American Indemnity and UTMB in Galveston, Texas. But her favorite job was a trained and certified Mastectomy Fitter for Foley’s and Sakowitz.  Helen had the perfect traits for the role; a demeanor of warmth, compassion and empathy.

At the age of eighty-five, while living at the Resort Nursing Home she would also survive Covid 19 in lockdown. Like many other families, we visited her through an outside glass window. She agreed to go on television, Fox 26 News TV in Houston with her beloved Dr. Robin Armstrong. She smiled for the cameras and commented how grateful she was to have survived Covid 19. She held up two fingers to the camera as a sign of “Victory”. Today, she has victory in Jesus and is in Heaven with her beloved family and friends where she awaits us.

Surviving are her two daughters and sons-in-law Paula Brightwell (John) of Texas City, Texas and Kathy Cappolino (Carl) of Dacula, Georgia; six grandsons and two granddaughters, eleven great-grandchildren and a brother Charles Lackey of Brazoria, Texas.  She is preceded in death by her son, Stephen Oliver Sr.  Helen will be laid to rest at Galveston Memorial Cemetery in Hitchcock, Texas.

A funeral service will be at 12:30pm on Friday, June 20, 2025 at the Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque with Dr. R.L. Calhoun officiating.  Interment of ashes will follow at 2:00pm at Galveston Memorial Park Cemetery in Hitchcock, Texas.

As believers in Christ, this is not goodbye, it’s see you soon.  So Mom we will see you when the Trumpet sounds.

Jesus told his disciples in John 14:1-3,
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

John 16:22 Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice and no one will take your joy away from you.