Helen A Stites

Helen A. Stites passed away at the age of 99 on April 9 in Grand Junction,Colorado surrounded by her family. Helen was born on May 12,1926 in Charleston, Illinois. She was the daughter of Logan and Aileen (Schneiter) Highland.

She married Stanley J.Stites on June 22,1946. Surviving are three daughters: Cheryl (Mike) Masters of Grand Junction,Connie Konya(John Baker) of Woodmont, CT, and Carol (Jim) Borman of Manitowoc, WI. Her grandchildren are Leanne (Phil) Kelly, Jonathan(Carley) Konya, Josh Masters, Anna Konya, Logan and Kyle Stokes. Five great grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by her husband,their daughter Cynthia “Caitlyn Stanley”, son-in-law John Konya, great grandson Howlen Konya, as well as her siblings.

Helen moved to Grand Junction following Stan’s death in 2019. At Eastern Illinois University she attended the Lab School as well as two years of college. Stan and Helen lived in Chicago while Stan attended podiatry school. They moved to Clinton in 1953. She assisted in the family business of printing and advertising and also worked in the Clinton school system in secretarial positions and as a library assistant. Helen enjoyed sewing, reading, and flower gardening. Her interest in Abraham Lincoln’s years as an Illinois circuit attorney led her to research, write and publish the book Finding Lincoln in Dewitt County. She also wrote a play, Remembering Lincoln, which was based on her research of the local church members’ responses to Lincoln’s assasination. It was performed at the Presbyterian Church. Helen was a member of the Lincoln Heritage Committee, Friends of the Library, and a Board Member of the Dewitt County Museum for nearly 50 years. 

A private graveside service will be held in Charleston in June where Helen and Stan will unite for what would have been their 80th anniversary. Memorials may be directed to the Clinton United Methodist Church or the Dewitt County Museum.