Obituary of Helen Marie Bland

Helen Marie Bland, 69, passed away Saturday, June 4, 2016. She is preceded in death by her parents, Hugh and Elizabeth Hornsby; and sister, Turla Jones. Helen is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Ronnie Bland; son, Kristian Bland and wife, Brittany; daughter, Gretchen Meyer and husband, Curt; brother, Hugh Hornsby; sisters, Sandra Fields, Barbara Whitman; grandchildren, Zachary, Gabriel, and Elizabeth Meyer, Trey Butler; and a host of other family and friends. Helen moved from the Hill Country to Beaumont in the late fifties, and from then on considered Beaumont her home. She graduated from Forest Park High School with the graduating Class of 1965. The friends that Helen found in her years at Forest Park High remain friends to this day. She studied at the University of Texas, and graduated with her Bachelors of Arts from Lamar University. Helen was a dedicated 5th grade teacher and educator for many years and loved all her students. Her students loved her very much and her former student, Gerardo Gomez, was the first person to her home after her passing to pay respects. Helen was very proud of her Texas heritage and was a devoted member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. She was truly a people person, never met a stranger and made new friends everywhere she went. Helen loved flowers and gardening. She enjoyed traveling to the Hill Country, studying Texas history, and her Hornsby family heritage. Helen was affectionately known as “Mammy” to her grandchildren and she cherished spending time with them during family gatherings. She will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her. A visitation and service for Helen will be held Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1350 N. 23rd Street, Beaumont, Texas 77706. The visitation will take place from 1:00 until 2:00 pm and the funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm with Rev. John Howard Reed officiating. A celebration of life will follow the funeral service at 3:00pm in the church parlor. Interment will be held Thursday, June 9, 2016 at 1:00 pm at Hornsby Cemetery. Flowers may be delivered to St. Andrews Church between 8:30 and 4:00. If you prefer, donations may be made to Helen’s family cemetery, a Texas historical landmark. Donations may be made payable to The Hornsby Cemetery Foundation - care of President C. Ronnie Platt, 16110 Chateau Ave., Austin, TX 78734.