Helen M Fisher's Obituary
Helen M. Fisher, 81, of Boonville, MO, passed away on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at her home surrounded by her family. Services will be held Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Morgan Street Baptist Church in Boonville. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Saturday at Morgan Street Baptist Church. Services will be live streamed at 11:00 AM through the HT May & Son Funeral Home Facebook page and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/htmayfuneralhome.
On the brisk Spring morning of April 23, 2024, Helen Marie (Bruce) Fisher, with grace and in
peace, went to be with the Lord.
Helen Marie (Bruce) Fisher, also affectionately known as “Hilda” and “Hon-Ree,” was born on
June 7, 1942 in Gooches Mill, Missouri; and spent most of her lifetime in and around Cooper
County, Missouri including the towns of Speed, Bunceton, and Clark’s Fork. Helen Marie was
married for 36 years to Ernest Eugene Fisher, and together they raised seven children: Ernest,
Elizabeth (Sissy), Kirk, Devra, Stevie, Norman and Natesia (Teecee). She and her husband
purchased a home in Boonville, Missouri on April 5, 1970 and miraculously kept the same
telephone number for over 52 years. She is known lovingly to have said, “We’ve come a long
way!”
Helen Marie, was herself– living history, having been bussed or walked to segregated schools
during the late 1940’s and 50’s. She attended schools in Speed, which was a one room
Schoolhouse, Bell Air School, Dunbar School in Bunceton, Sumner School in Boonville, and
along with her brother William Henry and sister, Cherry, were bussed to High School in Prairie
Home, Missouri. The three bright children, Helen Marie, William Henry and sister Cherry, were
part of the effort to desegregate the schools in 1956–that school remains open and standing to
this day. They were welcomed into the school without incident, and she said of those memories
lovingly, “We’ve come a long way!”
Helen Marie accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age, and worked in and
around Boonville by serving her community as a member and Church Clerk/Secretary at
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church for over 45 years. She was a Central District Member, long-time
member of the YMCA, and long-standing member of the CCBC where she served as “Cook” for
3 years for the CCBC Summer Food Program supporting local Youth–so we know they had
some really good food! Helen Marie also served as a long time member of the Boonville
Cemetery Board, and pondered, “We’ve come a long way!”
Helen Marie, as she was affectionately known, had a friendly personality, and never met a
stranger. She was blessed with a great sense of humor, and took everything one step at a time.
Helen had a way about imparting wisdom and knowledge in almost any situation to those that
asked, and would do so with grace and thoughtfulness. She enjoyed good conversations, food,
family and friends. Helen Marie had a Sisterhood Group made up of her daughter, Teecee
(Natesia) her granddaughter Acacia, and long time friends Joann and Chaneta– they went
about serving and delivering cooked meals to the community during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Helen Marie loved to go, and was a “Road Dog” traveling often to Tennessee, Chicago,
St. Louis and Kansas City— She was ready to go wherever the family bus was going!
Helen Marie was known all over the United States of America by friends and family alike for her
amazing baking skills including her famous Chocolate Pie, Brown Sugar Pie, Peach Cobbler,
Lep Cookies and a variety of cakes, desserts, and scrumptious meals. You could count on a
warm and loving welcome whenever you, a loved one, family or friend were a guest in her
home– Yes, with God as her guide, and Jesus by her side, “Helen Marie (Bruce) Fisher went a
long way!”
Loving to talk and reflect on life and the beauty of it all, Helen Marie had a few favorite sayings,
including “You Gotta Stay On Your Feet!” –And that she did!
Helen Marie was preceded in death by her husband Ernest Eugene Fisher; Parents Henry
Bruce and Myrtle (Bruce) Mason, (Roger Mason); Brother James Bruce, Sister-In-Law Mary
Alice; Sister Luella (Bruce) Williams and her husband Robert Williams, Sr.; Brothers William
Henry Bruce and Frank Bruce; and Brother-In-Law James Shipley; Children Ernest Fisher, Kirk
Crockett, Norman Bruce, Elizabeth (Sissy) Collier; Nieces Wanda Bruce and Samantha Butler
and Nephews Robert Bruce and Kenneth Shipley; Granddaughter Lashaun; and one Great
Grandson.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Devra Collier, Stevie (Myrna) Bruce, and, Natesia
(Teecee) Fisher; Sisters Mildred (Bruce) Shipley and Cherry (Bruce) Parks and her husband
Ezelle Parks; Brother Kenneth Bruce and his wife Becky; Sister-In-Laws Sadie Bruce and
Adele Bruce; Grandchildren Michael (Camille) Collier, Devra Collier, Brandon (Rachel) Bruce,
Heather Bruce, Felicia Bruce, Bradley Bruce, Mathew Bruce, Derrick Bruce, Acacia Jiles,
Cearra (Bonnie) Smith, Kylie Crockett, Amber Crockett, Nicole Crockett; Great-Grandchildren,
Great Nieces and Great Nephews; and a host of Cousins, extended Family and Friends.
What’s your fondest memory of Helen?
What’s a lesson you learned from Helen?
Share a story where Helen's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Helen you’ll never forget.
How did Helen make you smile?
