Helen O. (Oakley) Proctor

Helen O. (Oakley) Proctor of Gorham, Maine, passed away after a brief illness on Monday, October 9, 2017.  She was born on March 27, 1929 in Hartford Township, PA, the daughter of Dorothy (Snyder) and Herbert Oakley.

She was predeceased by her husband, Al (Albert) Proctor and son, John Proctor.  She is survived by her children, daughter, Gail Mazzone and son-in-law, Joe, Westbrook, ME and son, Joel Proctor, Brandywine MD.  She treasured her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Jeff Mazzone and son, Lucas; Laura McLaughlin, and sons, Liam and Trace, and daughter, Jayla; Matthew Proctor and wife, Stephanie, and daughter, Lily.

She is also survived by sister, Thelma Button, of Columbia, SC, and brother, Louis Oakley, of New York.  She was predeceased by brothers, Ivan, Hilbert, Eugene, Glenn, and Paul.  She was also predeceased by her daughter-in-law, Sandi Proctor (Joel’s wife).   She leaves behind countless cousins, nieces and nephews.

Helen graduated from Nicholson High School and attended 2 years of college.  She married Al Proctor in 1950.  They lived in many places their first years of married life finally settling at Warwick, NY in 1957.  Helen and her family (the Oakley clan) were infamous for their lively pinochle games at the family farmstead.  Her children grew up mastering numerous card and board games played at every get-together! 

She detailed her childhood in a memoir entitled “Life on a Farm” describing the farm where she grew up in Nicholson, PA with her 7 siblings many of whom became dairy farmers themselves.  It was an interesting chronicle of living through the depression and subsequent years with descriptions of their childhood activities, farm life and school memories.

Helen’s family would like to thank the staff from Gorham House for their kind and loving care of her during the past six years.  They became her second family and she adored them.  In her final days, Beacon Hospice was there to provide her and the family comfort and it was greatly appreciated.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm at the Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Ave, Warwick, NY on Saturday, November 4th with internment and reception to follow the service.  In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Jude’s Children & Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or via https://www.stjude.org/. 

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