Helen Osbourn

Helen Mae Osbourn passed away at home in Roswell, New Mexico surrounded by a loving family on October 17,2013.

Helen was bom to William Amaziah Varner and Rosie Anna Honeycutt Varner in Marble Valley, Alabama on September 2,1929. She was the baby in a family of ten children, three boys and seven girls. She grew up on a farm in Hollins, Alabama where she lived for 26 years and began work as a nurse for the hospital in Sylacauga, Alabama.

Helen married Floyd M. Osbourn on May 26,1955 in Meridian, Mississippi. They moved to Monahans, Texas immediately after being married. She lived in Monahans until the family moved to Artesia, New Mexico in 1957 where for two years Helen managed the home while Floyd worked in the oil fields. In 1959, Helen and Floyd traded their car to lease the building D.L. Baties Grocery was in and opened the F H Grocery on north First Street in Artesia. Helen would ride a bike to the store then open and operated it in the mornings while Floyd worked the morning shift in the oil fields. After three years, they sold the grocery store and started Osbourn Drilling and Pump Company where Helen was a coowner, bookkeeper, and office manager for 39 years. Helen at the same time obtained her beautician license and cosmetology instructors license. She owned and operated four beauty salons in Artesia. Helens passion was obtaining and selling property with a strong talent in developing subdivisions. She was the coowner in acquisition and development of multiple oil leases. She was talented in and enjoyed both music and art. She loved playing the harmonica and the piano and relaxed by painting still art.

At the age of 23, Helen gave her heart to the Lord and was baptized in a creek southeast of Sylacauga with the church choir singing Shall We Gather at the River on the banks of the creek during the ceremony. She loved the Lord with all her heart, mind and soul. She opened her home to many people in a open display of Christian compassion for all she met.

She is the mother of four children, Gale, Laddie, Kenneth, and Tajuana. She is preceded in death by her parents, and nine siblings, and her son Kenneth. She is survived by her husband, Floyd, three children, 12 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held Monday, October 21, at Terpening Funeral Home in Artesia, New Mexico at 2 p.m. with burial to follow at Woodbine Cemetery. Funeral Pallbearers will be Adam Worley, Scott McIntosh, Christopher Liveoak, Gary Waddle, Christian Bannister, and Todd Bannister.