Helen Elaine (Mowbray) Grayson

     KEYSER, WV - Helen Elaine (Mowbray) Grayson, age 89, of Keyser, WV, passed from death to life on December 16, 2019. She was the daughter of Thomas Gladstone Mowbray and Elsie (Crowe) Mowbray of Barton, MD, and was born on July 25, 1930. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Donald C. Grayson, Jr., and daughter Dawna Lynn (Grayson) Day; sister, Doris Mowbray Abe, son-in-law Michael Kelly Day and brother-in-law, Terry Maine.  

     Helen was a graduate of Barton High School and Catherman's Business School. She was employed in the steno pool at Celanese, worked in the chem lab at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory, was a Welcome Wagon Hostess in Keyser during the early 1960's, a real estate agent at Compton Realty, a transcriptionist for the Mineral County Court Reporter, and sold Christian books and flags as a cottage industry.

     She was a devoted follower of Christ and a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and homemaker. Helen was a 3rd grade Sunday School teacher for many years and was the storyteller for the After School program at First United Methodist Church in Keyser. She loved to pray for others and was a serious student of God's Word using "The Daily Walk" to read through the Bible every year before she lost her eyesight. Helen passed many of her loves on to her children and grandchildren. Because of her, they learned the constellations in the night sky, could identify a plethora of flowers, birds, cloud formations and trees, could recite the many poems she taught them, enjoyed hatching chickens and geese in her incubator, and loved doing puppet shows with the puppets she created. She was a great cook, seamstress, and flagmaker. Helen had a servant's heart and loved helping others. She had an infectious smile and a great laugh.

     She is survived by her sisters Ruth Keesling (and lifetime friend Linda Gallentine) of Nixa, MO, and June Ruffo (and husband Ronald) of Crownsville, MD; daughters Valerie Grayson Lechliter of Somerset, PA, and Beth Grayson, Keyser; a son, Donald C. Grayson, III, Keyser; Grandsons Michael Day and wife Lael of Greer, SC, Daniel Day and wife Constance "CD" of Short Gap, WV, Nathaniel Grayson, Morgantown, WV, and Simon Grayson, Keyser, WV; great-grandsons Kai, Taj, and Koa Day of Greer, SC and Channing and Orion Day of Short Gap, WV; and several nieces and nephews.

     Helen is also survived by a beautiful circle of devoted friends, neighbors, brothers and sisters in Christ, and beloved caregivers. These friends and caregivers became the hands and feet of Jesus to Helen and she would never have been able to remain in her home as long as she did without their loving care and support.

     Friends will be received at Markwood Funeral Home in Keyser on Friday, December 20, 2019 from 6-9 p.m.  The funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church, 32 N. Davis St., Keyser, WV Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 2 p.m. with the Reverend Shirley Reed officiating. Interment will follow in St. Thomas Cemetery, Keyser.

     Anyone wishing to send expressions of sympathy other than flowers may send donations to The Union Rescue Mission, 16 Gulf Memorial Dr., Cumberland, MD 21502 or First United Methodist Church (After School Program), 32 N. Davis St., Keyser, WV 26726 in Helen's memory.

     Helen's favorite Bible passage was John 11: 25-26 "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.'"

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