Born on February 22, 1924, to Leonard and Ruth Hills in Douglas, Illinois, Helen grew up in that town and attended primary school there. She graduated from Yates City High School in 1942. Helen married William (Bill) Allen on Valentine’s Day, 1951, and together they had two children, Jerrie Lynn and William. Bill died in 1970, and in 1977 Helen married Herman Laurson, who died in 1988.
Helen was a wonderful quilter, a baker of bread and cookies, a member of the Eastern Stars, and a lifelong diehard Chicago Cubs fan. If there was a Cubs game on, it was playing in her living room. She knew every player and their strengths and followed the team with steady devotion.
Her home was a haven of warmth and a little whimsy. The scent of baked goods always greeted her grandchildren when they visited from Alaska, and her freezer was always stocked with treats for any occasion. Hundreds of pig figurines—gifts from friends and loved ones—decorated every surface. Family photos covered the walls, keeping loved ones close even when they were far away.
Helen was known for her legendary strawberry jam, which she mailed every summer to her granddaughters in Alaska. Every holiday season she would bake dozens of varieties of cookies to share with loved ones, a tradition that lives on through her granddaughters and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her brother Raymond; her three sisters, Dorothy, Mildred Ruth, and Emma Jane; and her son, William. She is survived by her daughter, Jerrie (Allen) Graham; two grandchildren, Jaime Graham and Michelle Graham; and four great-grandchildren, Rayne, Aurora, Aria, and Atlas.
Helen’s legacy lives on in the recipes she passed down, the quilts she stitched with love, and the traditions she inspired. She will be remembered for her quiet strength, her fun spirit, and the way she made her house feel like home to everyone who walked through the door.
Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Yates City Cemetery followed by food and fellowship at the Douglas United Methodist Church.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome
Oaks-Hines Funeral Home and Crematory in Elmwood is in charge of arrangements.
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