Individual Record 3006

Name}   Dunshie, Helen Ray		Family History} Olson
Title}	Race} White	Sex} Female
Birth:   Date} Fam 9 Oct 1919	Place} Hamshire, Jefferson, Texas
Marr.: Date} Fam 1946	Place} Texas     (Link)
Death: Date} Fam 23 May 2015	Place} Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas
Burial: Date} Aft 23 May 2015	Place} Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas
	Grave Marker}	Source 1} 1821=1920 USA cen Source 2} 1822=1930 USA cen Source 3} 1417=1940 USA cen Source 4} 1420=City directry Source 5} 963 = Cemetery rec Source 6} 1823=Obituary Source 7}   Source 8}   Source 9}   Source 10}
Parents: } Milton Hamilton Dunshie and Blanche L. Border      Household No.} 746
1st Household No.} 746 = Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas
Occupation 1} Teacher        Occupation 2} Florist
Religion/Church} Methodist
Spouses:   Prime} Johnsen, Walter, Ejner  Total Number of} 1
Notes:  Helen Ray Dunshie was born 9 Oct 1919 in Hamshire, Jefferson, Texas.  She was the youngest of three daughters of Milton and Blanche Dunshie.  Her older sisters were Clara, born about 1916, and Nadeen, born about 1918. In the 1920 U.S. census, Helen was living with her family on Hamshire Road, Justice Precinct 4, Jefferson, Texas.  Her father Milton was a rice farmer, and their farm was rented.  The children were Clarra L., 4, Wadane, 2½, and Hellen, 8 months.  Boarding in the household was Vergel Pittman, 19, a rice farm laborer. In the 1930 U.S. census, Helen was living with her family on State Highway South, Justice Precinct 4, Jefferson, Texas.  The family was renting a house, not on a farm.  Her mother Blanche was a school teacher.  Their daughters were Clara, 14, Wadene, 12, and Helen, 10, all attending school.  Helen graduated from South Park High School, Beaumont, where she was voted class favorite in her freshman year. In the Beaumont (Texas) City Directory, 1937, Helen is listed with her family living at 675 Palm, Beaumont.  In the 1938 Directory, she is listed as a student, and the family is living at 585 Anchor, Beaumont.  By the 1940 Directory, her family is living at 1495 Emma, Beaumont, their long time residence, and Helen is listed as a student.  In 1943, Helen is listed as an instructor, and in 1945 as a designer for Johnsen's Florist. In the 1940 U.S. census, Helen was living with her family at 1495 Emma, Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, the same city as in 1935.  Her father Milton was a truck driver for the City Street Department.  Her mother Blanche was a public school teacher.  The children were Clara, 24, a secretary for a commercial credit company, Wadene, 22, a secretary in a public school, and Helen, 20, a student, who had completed one year of college.  Helen graduated from Lamar State College with a degree in Elementary Education.  She was the Texas Jr. College Team Champion with her tennis partner Gladys Simmons while a freshman at Lamar. Helen married Walter Ejner Johnsen in 1946.  She appears as the wife of Walter Johnsen (Mrs. W.E. and Mrs. Helen D.) in the 1952 through 1960 Beaumont, Texas, City Directories.  Together they built the business of Walter E. Johnsen Greenhouses, Inc., a division of Johnsen's Florist.  She was manager of the Johnsen's Hotel Beaumont Flower Shop.  Their residence was at 1466 Emma, Beaumont.  There is no indication that they had a family. Helen was a 1st grade teacher at Caldwood Elementary, Beaumont, and involved in many education and civic organizations.  These included the Texas State Teachers Association, Lamar Alumni Association, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Beaumont Symphony League, Texas Gulf Historical Society and the Gladys City Reconstruction project.  She was honored as the 'First Board Member Emeritus of the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Foundation'.  Upon her death she created the 'Helen R. Johnsen Memorial Scholarship Fund'. Helen's husband Walter Johnsen died 30 Sep 1999.  Helen spent her last sixteen years at Calder Woods, a retirement complex that she help bring to Beaumont.  She died 23 May 2015.  Services were held 27 May 2015 at Broussard's, Beaumont.  She is buried with her husband in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas.
Time of Birth}	Time of Death}	Fraternal/Social}
Baptism Date}	Place}
Confirm. Date}	Photos} Helen Ray Dunshie Johnsen
Immigr'n Date} N/A	Port} N/A
Education: Grade} College, 2 yr         or Top 2 Degrees}
Military: Service}                                    for the State of}
Health Condition}     Cause of Death}	Last Updated by} Karen Hancock Date Updated}   5 Sep 2015 Date Created}    7 May 2013
Copyright © 2013 - 2015 by Karen L. Hancock.  All Rights Reserved.

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