1922
Helen
2013
Helen Marie Hess
May 9, 1922 — July 3, 2013
Harlingen, TX:
Helen Graff Hess, age 91, of Harlingen, Texas, passed away July 3, 2013.
Helen Graff Hess was born in Kreole, Mississippi on May 9, 1922 to Joseph Peter and Olga O. Mergy Graff. Helen graduated from Springhill High School in Springhill, Louisiana in 1940. After graduation she attended Nurse’s school at Mobile City County Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. She attended Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama in connection with her nursing studies, and graduated from nurses training in 1943. She then joined the Army Nurse Corps during World War II, and was stationed at Brooke Army Hospital at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for the duration of the War.
In 1942 while in nurses training, Helen met John Russell Hess. They were married on October 27, 1945 after being discharged from the service with the rank of Lieutenant. They moved to Raymondville, Texas in July of 1948 and opened Johnny’s Western Auto Associate Store. In 1965 they purchased Western Auto Associate on 1st Street in Harlingen and later ran Johnny’s True Value on Tyler also in Harlingen. She continued working and managing the families various hardware stores until her retirement in the early 90’s.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, John Russell Hess and her oldest child Jamie Ras Griffith. She leaves behind her children: John R. Hess Jr. (Liz) of La Feria, Gaye Noyola-Ross of Raymondville, James Hess (Melinda) of Harlingen, Carl Hess (Joyce) of Leander, Edwin Hess (Cathy) of Seguin, Donald Hess (Joe) of Orange, California, and Serena Hess-Cole (Michael) of Dallas, as well as 16 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be held at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2013 with Full Military Honors.
Helen Graff Hess, age 91, of Harlingen, Texas, passed away July 3, 2013.
Helen Graff Hess was born in Kreole, Mississippi on May 9, 1922 to Joseph Peter and Olga O. Mergy Graff. Helen graduated from Springhill High School in Springhill, Louisiana in 1940. After graduation she attended Nurse’s school at Mobile City County Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. She attended Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama in connection with her nursing studies, and graduated from nurses training in 1943. She then joined the Army Nurse Corps during World War II, and was stationed at Brooke Army Hospital at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for the duration of the War.
In 1942 while in nurses training, Helen met John Russell Hess. They were married on October 27, 1945 after being discharged from the service with the rank of Lieutenant. They moved to Raymondville, Texas in July of 1948 and opened Johnny’s Western Auto Associate Store. In 1965 they purchased Western Auto Associate on 1st Street in Harlingen and later ran Johnny’s True Value on Tyler also in Harlingen. She continued working and managing the families various hardware stores until her retirement in the early 90’s.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, John Russell Hess and her oldest child Jamie Ras Griffith. She leaves behind her children: John R. Hess Jr. (Liz) of La Feria, Gaye Noyola-Ross of Raymondville, James Hess (Melinda) of Harlingen, Carl Hess (Joyce) of Leander, Edwin Hess (Cathy) of Seguin, Donald Hess (Joe) of Orange, California, and Serena Hess-Cole (Michael) of Dallas, as well as 16 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be held at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2013 with Full Military Honors.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen Marie Hess, please visit our flower store.