OBITUARY – George Helle

MISSION – George Thompson Helle, 87, of Mission, passed away Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital.

Mr. Helle was born in 1931, in Yonkers, N.Y. His family moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1947. He graduated from Mission High School in 1949, attended Pan American College and worked for Sun Oil Company for 10 years while farming part-time. He began farming full-time, farmed for over 50 years, and became one of the top cotton farmers in Hidalgo County and in 1969 was recognized by the Department of Agriculture for his innovative techniques.

He and his wife of 17 years, Shirley, lived in Laguna Vista and South Padre Island where they were members of St. Andrews by the Sea Episcopal Church.

Survivors include his children, George Helle Jr. of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mex., Linda Lyles of Charlotte, N.C., Anne Dose of Dobbin, Michael Helle of Edinburg and Lorraine Burns of Raymondville; and 13 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Adolf Helle and Elsie Elizabeth MacNamee.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 1 p.m. at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission.