Obituary of Helen Elaine Garner

Helen Elaine Cheney Garner of Limestone, Tennessee went to be with her Lord on January 29, 2022. She was born on a 265-acre farm outside of Fowlerville, Michigan on January 28, 1927, to LaVern and Eliza Cheney. Then in 1940, with her parents and her seven siblings, the family moved to LaSalle, Michigan. Helen met and fell in love with Fred Garner and was married on August 11, 1945, while he was on leave from World War II.  After marrying Fred, Helen centered her life on her family, raising children and settling in LaSalle, Michigan. The happy couple was blessed with the birth of five children, with one child, Doreen Dawn, being sent back to the Lord at birth. With the great love that Helen and Fred shared, they were blessed with fifty plus descendants from both sides of their families, keeping their hearts filled with love.

Helen did a great deal of traveling with her family, her work, and with the Michigan Concert Choir of which she belonged.   The excursions allowed her the luxury to visit all fifty states and twelve countries. Helen loved to travel and would continue to do so until the passing of her husband on October 22, 2012.

Helen was a Presbyterian by faith and attended LaSalle Presbyterian Church for over eighty years. On April 27, 2017, Helen moved to Limestone, Tennessee where she resided with her son, Terry, because Lana remarried. Helen and Terry then attended Oakland Presbyterian Church in Limestone, Tennessee until her passing.

She was preceded in death by her parents; LaVerne 92, Eliza 96; Sisters Elda 100, LaVorna 99, Corey 98, Dorotha 83; and Brother: Larraine 62.

To cherish her memory, she leaves her four children: Leslie (Becky), Terry (Patsy) and Ronald (Donna) and Lana (the late Kenneth Miller) Emerson-Miller; Brother: LaVern “Bud”; Sister: Eliza Navarre; twelve grandchildren: Eddie, Cindi, Bryan, Doreen, Colleen, Heather, Ronnie, Trish, Billy, Anthony, Mathew, and Kenny; twenty-eight great grandchildren and fifteen great-great grandchildren.

At Helen’s request, in lieu of flowers donations in her honor are suggested to the LaSalle Presbyterian Church in LaSalle, Michigan or Oakland Presbyterian Church in Limestone, Tennessee or to her family.

Friends may gather on Saturday; February 12, 2022, from 10:00am until the time of the Celebration of Her Life at 11:00am at LaSalle Presbyterian Church; 13007 South Dixie Highway, LaSalle, Michigan 48145.  Her final resting place is at Roselawn next to her Husband of Sixty-Seven years.  Her care has been entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe; 14567 South Dixie Highway, Monroe, Michigan 48162 (734) 241-7070. 

Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.