Harry C. ‘Hiney’ Helmert

Mr. Helmert died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2003, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

He was born June 14, 1928, in Alix, Ark., the son of Hardel and Era (Amison) Helmert.

Mr. Helmert was a coal miner for Big 4 Coal Co. from 1945 until he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was a sergeant during the Korean War and was decorated with the Korean Service Bronze Campaign Star and the United Nations Service Medal. He then worked for Lawrence Paper Co. as a press operator for 37 years before he retired. He was working at Paper Warehouse at the time of his death. He was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Alford-Clarke Post No. 852, member of Dorsey-Liberty Post No. 14 American Legion, Odd Fellows and Friendship Lodge No. 574 Rebekahs.

He married Grace Gibson on April 19, 1964, in Miami, Okla. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include two daughters, Tracey Durkes-Libel, Winchester, and Wanda, Lawrence; two sons, Terry, Leavenworth, and Calvin, Lawrence; a stepdaughter, Linda Pearce, Lawrence; Marie Helmert, Altus, Ark., who raised him after his mother died; a brother, David, La Cygne; two sisters, Betty Cagle, Ozark, Ark., and Jean Thompson, Fort Smith, Ark.; and seven grandchildren.

A stepdaughter, Shirley Gurka, died earlier.

Family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary.

The family suggests memorials to Veterans Memorial in Altus, sent in care of the mortuary.