Carol Jean Helvey

Carol Jean Helvey, 76, of Johnson Lake, Nebraska, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on November 14, 2024, at Country House Residence in Elkhorn, Nebraska. 

Carol Jean (CJ) Helvey was born August 22, 1948 in David City, Nebraska, to Morris and Anita (Cordes) White. She was a member of the Methodist Church in Ulysses and attended the Ulysses Grade School. She graduated from Seward High School in 1966. She graduated from Kearney State College in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education with emphases in History and Art. 

She married Richard Dennis (Dick) Helvey from Lexington, Nebraska, on June 12, 1970, at the Kearney State College Newman Center. Shortly after they were married they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where Dick was stationed during the Vietnam War. They were the parents of Dori Anne, Jason Thaine, and Carmen Elizabeth. They raised their family in Lexington and moved to Johnson Lake in 2014. CJ and Dick both loved evenings with friends at Dance Club and playing cards. When their kids were young, a lot of time was spent camping, canoeing, and teaching the kids to water ski and snow ski. Later, many fun days were filled teaching her eleven grandkids a variety of things including her love of reading, sewing, cooking, and gardening. 

 She began her teaching career at Dawson County District 7 School, located north of Lexington, by teaching kindergarten and then transitioned to teaching grades K-3 all together in the same classroom. She loved all sixteen years at that special rural school, where she developed long lasting relationships with so many families. Upon the closing of District 7, she began a new chapter in her teaching career as a kindergarten teacher at Sandoz Elementary School in Lexington. During her final years of teaching she was a reading specialist.

She cared deeply for her community and served it in many ways. While her kids were growing up, she taught CCD at St. Ann’s Catholic Church and was a very involved 4H parent. In retirement, she volunteered for the Tri-County Hospital Auxiliary and the Johnson Lake Trails. She was also very involved in several groups including St. Ann’s Catholic Church, the FS Chapter of PEO, and the Bonneville Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. She enjoyed decades of bridge club with many dear friends as well as her salad luncheon group.

Above all else, CJ was a devoted wife. Her care for her husband went above and beyond what anyone expected, but she wouldn’t have had it any other way. Her family rejoices in the belief that Dick has been patiently waiting to dance with her again at their reunion in heaven. 

CJ was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Helvey, who passed away on September 12, 2023. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Morris and Anita (Cordes) White; parents-in-law, Wilbur and Adelaide (Naviaux) Helvey; older brother, Don White; brother-in-law, Al Helvey; brother-in-law, Con Ogden; and nephew, Brett Ogden.

She is survived by her daughter, Dori Moomey and her husband, Travis, of Kearney, Nebraska; son, Dr. Jason Helvey and his wife, Sarah, of Omaha, Nebraska; and daughter Carmen Pleskac and her husband, Steven, of Fremont, Nebraska. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Hallett Moomey and his wife, Sophie Moomey; Phillip Moomey; Jillian Moomey; Camille Moomey; Marigold Helvey; Marley Helvey; Wesley Pleskac; Lucia Pleskac; Jaxon Pleskac; Derek Pleskac; and Rosalie Pleskac. She is also survived by Dick’s aunt, Sr. Mary Helena Naviaux; brother, Keith White; sister-in-law, Judy White; sister-in-law, Marjorie Ogden; sister-in-law, Cele Helvey; niece, Laura Mack; and many other dear relatives and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Lexington with Father Jose Chavez officiating. The Mass will be live-streamed via the Reynolds-Love Funeral Facebook page.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 22, 2024, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m.

Burial will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Lexington.

Memorials are kindly suggested to the Lexington Community Foundation or to St. Ann’s Catholic Church.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com