Helen Irene Coffelt, 90, of Houstonia, passed away on Tuesday, September 21.

She was born January 11, 1931, in Montana, daughter of Charles and Stella (Ludwig) Vers.

On March 25, 1951, in Longwood, MO, she was united in marriage to Theodore “Ted” Leland Coffelt, Sr.

After graduating high school in Marshall, Helen earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Missouri Valley College in 1949. She taught vocal and instrumental music in numerous elementary schools in the area. In her 37 years of service in public schools, she was recognized several times with teaching awards on the school, district, and city levels. When asked why she believed music is so important, she replied, “It’s an outlet for people to be able to use ther voices.”

Family, music, and mentorship were the themes of Helen’s life. In addition to her role as an educator, she played in the Sedalia Symphony Orchestra, Marshall Philharmonic, the Sedalia Park Band, and was a member of the Helen G. Steele Music Club. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and attended Rangeline Presbyterian Church.

Her hobbies included needlework and crochet. Helen was an active and loving member in the lives of her grandchildren, never missing a concert, graduation, or birthday. She loved travel and had an adventurous streak. At the age of 78, she ziplined and rode horses while visiting Costa Rica with family. Throughout her life, she loved to spend time with family and friends at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Surviving are two sons, Ted Coffelt Jr., of Houstonia, and Terry Coffelt (Patti) of Columbia; daughter-in-law, Janice Coffelt, of Russellville; and two grandchildren, Allison K. Coffelt (Britt Hultgren), of Salt Lake City, UT, and Scott L. Coffelt (Annie), of Kansas City.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her youngest son, Stephen Scott Coffelt, and sister, Vera Davis.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 24, at Heckart Funeral Home, with Rev. Bobbie Karchner officiating.

Casket bearers will be Scott Coffelt, Russell Mitchell, Kent Burke, Andrew Treuner, Jim Van Horn and Spencer Jones.

Burial will be in Bethlehem Cemetery near Marshall Junction.

The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until service time Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Sedalia Symphony Society or the Coffelt Family Scholarship at the Sedalia School District Foundation.