Our beloved mother and grandmother, Helen Louise Hardwick, 92, passed away Saturday, Aug. 2, at The Aspens, in Burns, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Her family nickname of “Little Miss Sunshine”, an apt description of her sunny personality and ability to light up a room, she charmed others with her wit and vivacious energy. Helen will long be remembered for her love of family and community, and the positive influence she had on so many, over a lifetime of teaching and service to others and family, and for how she shaped the futures of young people in the Burns community.

A long-time Burns resident, Helen was born on Dec. 4, 1932, in Longview, Wash., the daughter of Agnes Ingeborg Backlund and Christian Elster, who had immigrated to the US from England and Denmark, respectively. After Helen graduated from High School in Bend, where she grew up, she attended Lewis and Clark College, where she received a BA degree with Honors in English, and went on to obtain a Certification in Elementary Education. Helen taught as an Elementary School teacher for many years, and after retirement, she continued to teach young people after she founded and maintained an extracurricular reading program she named, “Book Buddies”. This private, volunteer tutor setting helped a great many students learn how to read over its active years.

Helen’s main interest was her devotion to her family, which was always a source of great joy and pride throughout her life. Both her parenting and teaching style was to encourage independence and participation in interests outside of school, and she supported her children’s and grandchildren’s activity events by going out of her way to attend them, sometimes traveling afar to do so.

Always active in community organizations and events, among those Helen participated in were Eastern Star, the PEO Educational Sorority, the ESA Sorority, the Burns Library Foundation Board, the Supper Club, and the AAUW (American Association of University Women). She was an active member, for many years, of the local Christian Science Church, before it closed, and after that, she became a member of the Presbyterian Church. Helen received an honorary award as Harney County Woman of the Year in 2003.

Helen is survived by her three children, a daughter, Elizabeth Ann, by her first husband; and a son, David; and a daughter, Lori Lynn, whom she had by her second husband, Joe Hardwick, and Lori’s spouse, Dan Lavey. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Eric, Ella and Emerson Hardwick, and Max and Piper Lavey, and she is predeceased by her late husband, Joe Hardwick.

Donations in Helen Hardwick’s name can be made to the Harney County Public Library.

Harney County Library Foundation, 80 W. ‘D’ Street, Burns, Oregon 97720