Gertrude Helderman

Gertrude Loeta Helderman, 90, of Whitewater died Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

She was born Dec. 19, 1915, at Crump, daughter of William Elmer and Rachel Ruth Jones Brown. She and Buford "Shorty" Helderman were married Dec. 20, 1936.

Helderman was a homemaker and a member of Burfordville Baptist Church. She was also a member and former matron of the Whitewater Order of the Eastern Star 174 for 64 years.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Wayne Helderman and his wife, Georgia, of Whitewater; a sister, Alfreda Nash of St. Louis; two grandchildren, Clayton Helderman and his wife, Vicki, and Julie Hawk and her husband, Jason; and four great-grandchildren, Colby, Natalie, Megan and Brittney Hawk.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Shirley and Glenda.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home, with an Eastern Star service at 7 p.m.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. The Rev Morris Cobb and Dr. Jim Cogdill will officiate, with burial in McGuire Cemetery in Whitewater.

Memorials may be sent to the Burfordville Baptist Church or the Cape Girardeau Baptist Association.