Helen Forsee Means

Helen Forsee Means, 87, of Fulton, passed from this life on Saturday, August 25, 2012, at Fulton Presbyterian Manor. She was born October 5, 1924, to Jesse and Lillie (McCarty) Forsee of Millersburg. She was united in marriage to Louis W. (Louie) Means on June 29, 1946. He preceded her in death on December 14, 2010. Helen was a graduate of the 1943 class of Fulton High School. She attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville. Upon leaving college, she taught one year at Sunrise School in Callaway County. She then became an instructor in typing and office practice at Missouri School for the Deaf. When Winston Churchill made his visit to Fulton in 1946, Helen was asked to take his speech in shorthand. After starting her family, she became a substitute teacher and secretary in the Guidance Office at Fulton High School. In 1966, she went to work for the Division of Family Services in Callaway County. She loved doing her work in foster care, adoptions and aid to dependent children. She retired in 1986, as Supervisor of the Child Abuse/Neglect and Foster Care Adoptions Unit. Mrs. Means was a member of Court Street United Methodist church for many years and actively involved in all the programs of the church including serving as Sunday School Superintendent and as a teacher of both children and adult classes. She was a member of the Board of Trustees, President of the United Methodist Women for the Fulton church and also served as a District Trustee. Helen was also a certified Lay Speaker for the Methodist church. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 210 and served as their secretary and president for many years. Mrs. Means is survived by three children, Janet (David) Wilhite of Santa Maria, Calif., Patsy (Paul) Craghead of Fulton, and Rick (Molly) Means of Columbia. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Chris (Misty) Wilhite of Loveland Colo., Michael (Melanie) McCray of Fulton, Melissa (Omar) Carreon of Sacramento, Calif., Brittany (Allen) Wills of Columbia, and Rebecca Means of Columbia; five great-grandsons, Brock and Quinton McCray of Fulton, David and Christopher Wilhite of Loveland, Colo., and Omar Carreon of Sacramento, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, two sisters-in-law, and a niece. Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 28, 2012, at Court Street United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Callaway Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Means requested that memorials be given to the Children's Foster Care Program of the Division of Family Services, the Court Street United Methodist Church Youth Program or Hospice Compassus, c/o Debo Funeral Home, c/o Debo Funeral Home, 833 Court Street, Fulton, MO 65251. Condolences can be sent by visiting www.debofuneralhome.com.