Obituary: Ensign, Helen Louise
Age 98
Born Helen Louise Calkins to Fred and Louise Calkins in Yreka, California, she was the youngest of three siblings, her brothers, Walter and Leland having predeceased her.
For nearly 99 years she graced her family and friends with a kind and gentle demeanor, rising up to meet the challenges that she encountered in an imperfect world, and doing so with the epitome of dignity and elan.
She married Brown Ensign and brought four children into the world: Don; Lynda (Ken); Kathy (George); and Gary (Julane).
She had four grandchildren, followed by five great-grandchildren, all of whom she adored and of whom she was so proud.
Finding that she had to support herself from the early 60’s on, she unflinchingly set out to find jobs in retail that would allow her to be independent.
Not wanting to rely on anyone else, Helen would not ask anyone for anything and, through her own determination and grit, was able to live a comfortable life.
She was a gifted artisan, making dozens of Afghans, Quilts and hundreds of Christmas ornaments which she sold to augment her income.
Every member of her family, down to great-grandchildren, was blessed to receive some of these from their “Gammy”, as she was affectionately known by her family.
She loved to travel and would often visit her four children wherever they lived, stateside or overseas.
She loved to go dancing, which is probably the single thing she missed the most in her later years.
She loved to listen to the guitar and be sung to, never missing an opportunity of having Amazing Grace sung to her.
In fact, it was this beautiful hymn that was being sung softly in her ear as she faded away to be with God.
She lived her last few years as a resident of Royal Park Care Center where a loving and highly professional staff saw to her every need, laughed and visited with her and loved her as if she were a member of their own family right up to the end.
The staff knew her as the “laughing M & M lady” because she sustained herself with an endless supply of M & M’s and because she laughed tirelessly at just about anything that was said or done.
It was her laughter and sincere gratitude for what she believed to be her God given blessings that served to imbue in all the people that were lucky enough to be touched by her, a feeling that they too could look forward to growing old with grace and dignity.
Her daughters Lynda and Kathy were tireless in loving and caring for their Mom during her last years.
They visited with her almost daily, sharing in the joy that her ever-present laughter brought them and in the tears that were inevitable as the light of life began to dim.
God Bless you Gammy for being you and for making such difference in so many lives.
We miss you so much.