Helen Hagler

Helen B. Hagler, 75, of Colby, Kansas died with her family at her side on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Porter Adventists Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Helen was born on August 15, 1936 in Gem, Kansas to Melville Walden Talbott and Katherine E. Barlow Talbott. She had two older brothers, Melvin L. Talbott and Robert L. Talbott. Helen attended Colby grade school and graduated from Colby High School in 1954. She continued her education with college courses. Helen met her one true love, Lynn Hagler, at a square dance in Colby, Kansas. They knew their dance was going to be for a lifetime and were married on November 16, 1952. Shortly after their marriage, on December 9, 1952 Lynn was drafted into the army and was stationed in Korea. Helen and her best friend, Lois Johnson, were roommates in Colby while Lynn and Tommy Johnson were stationed in Korea. At that time Helen worked at the Berg & Grissom Drug Store in Colby. When Lynn returned from the service, he and Helen moved to Lynn’s family farm south of Atwood where Helen loved being a farm wife. In 1956 Lynn and Helen were blessed with their first child and only son, Harlan D. Hagler and in 1959 blessed again having their only daughter, Sherry L. Ummel. She enjoyed her role as a homemaker and mother. For a short time after Sherry was born, Helen worked as bookkeeper at the Thomas County National Bank in Colby. In 1980 Lynn and Helen moved from the family farm to Mingo, Kansas where Helen worked as a bookkeeper at the Mingo Coop. In 1993 they relocated to their present home in Colby, Kansas. Helen was a member of the Berean Church, Gideon’s International and President of the Lady’s Fellowship. She was a true Christian and her faith was a very important part of her life. She was very proud of her children and grandchildren and all their accomplishments. She loved seeing her three great-grandchildren and sharing time with them. She enjoyed the times with her kids and grandkids playing any kind of game. She was a wonderful cook and the family looked forward to her holiday feast! She belonged to a bridge club and seldom missed the weekly bridge get-together with the ladies! She loved and treasured every day that God gave her. There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for anyone who asked for her help. Her family and friends will miss her smile, great personality and the love she personally showed to each one of them.

She was preceded in death by her father, Walden Talbott, who died prior to her birth, her mother, Katherine Barlow Talbott and brother, Robert L. Talbott.

She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Lynn D. Hagler; her brother, Melvin L. Talbott of Palm Bay, Florida; two children, Harlan D. Hagler and wife, Margaret Hagler; Sherry L. Ummel and husband, Larry Ummel; grandchildren, Morgan Schweizer and husband, Bryan Schweizer of Atwood, Kansas; Jacob Hagler and wife, Linde Hagler of Atwood, Kansas; Jordan Hagler of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Erica Wang and husband, Sam Wang of Golden, Colorado; Adam Horinek of Dodge City, Kansas; and her three great-grandchildren, Addison Schweizer, Emma Hagler and Bentley Hagler, all of Atwood.

Visitation will be Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 from 10 a.m. till 7 p.m. at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, Jan 12, 2012 at Baalmann Mortuary. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Gideons International in care of the Mortuary. P.O. Box 391, Colby, KS 67701.