Obituaries: Helen Joyce (Hayes) Clark

Helen Joyce (Hayes) Clark

On Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, Helen Joyce (Hayes) Clark of Auburn, Georgia, loving wife and mother of four children, graduated this life and ascended into the arms of her Divine Father.

Helen was 85 years old.

She was born at home on Nov. 7, 1933, in Cloquet. She was the youngest daughter of Clarence and Eva (Pigman) Hayes. She received her diploma in nursing from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Duluth in the spring of 1954. In the fall of 1954, she married Phillip S. Clark. Together they raised two daughters, Connie and Jan, both registered nurses — following in their mother’s footsteps — and two sons, Patrick and Curtis, who passed away unexpectedly in 1973.

Helen had a passion for music. She served as the church pianist and organist at the Babbitt Baptist Church in Babbitt for 25 years. She also played the French horn for the Cloquet High School orchestra and marching band. Due to Alzheimer’s disease, she was no longer able to play her beloved instruments, but would keep time to music, tapping away to her favorite hymns played on her Alexa device.

Helen was known for her infectious smile and her kind, compassionate spirit.

She is survived by her husband, Phillip; daughter Connie (husband Glenn) Harle of Hibbing; daughter Jan of Ellijay, Georgia; granddaughter Dr. Marissa (husband Dr. Nicholas McCann) Harle of Minneapolis; grandson Patrick (wife Brooke) Harle; great-grandchildren Oliver and Elsie of Hibbing; nieces and nephews; and friends.

Helen is reunited in death with her father, Clarence, and her mother, Eva; her brother Del; sisters Evelyn and Marian; and her two sons, Patrick and Curtis.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel, 3481 Hamilton Mill Road, Buford GA 30519. Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel, 770-945-6924.

Share memories of Helen at hamiltonmillchapel.com.