January 2, 1929 ~ November 21, 2021
Funeral services for Mr. George Edward Hellie, Sr., 92, of Jefferson, Texas were held on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, in the Captain Wm. Perry Chapel at 11:00 AM with Pastor Gene Clapp and Pastor John Taylor officiating under the direction of Haggard Funeral Home of Jefferson, TX. Visitation was from 6-8 PM on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, in the Captain Wm. Perry Chapel. Interment was held immediately following the service in Berea Cemetery, Jefferson, Texas.
Mr. Hellie was born on January 2, 1929, in St. Paul, Minnesota to Roger Theodore Hellie and Otilia Ann Pederson and passed away at his home in Jefferson, Texas surrounded by his loving family on November 21, 2021.
George attended Mount Ellis S.D.A. Academy but left school in 1945 after his 10th grade to work full time at Harris Pine Mill in Pendleton, Oregon to help support his family. On January 22, 1948, George joined the United States Army where he honorably served his country for the next three years including a 10-month deployment with Company A 3rd Engineer Combat Battalion in Kokura, Japan. During his time in the army, he was stationed in Alexandria, Virginia where he met and married the love of his life Emma Jean Breeden. They were married on April 5, 1949. When he returned home from Japan, he continued his employment with Harris Pine Mill, and then went on to work for Brandom Kitchen Cabinets and other Seventh Day Adventist Conference industries in Alexandria, Virginia; Chicago Heights, Illinois; Lincoln, Nebraska; Berrien Springs, Michigan; Healdsburg, California; Keene, and Jefferson, Texas.
George inherited his carpentry skills from his grandfather, and he used those tremendous talents to make cabinets, bookcases, hunting bow racks, kid chairs, swings, and much more which will be forever cherished by his family. Although he enjoyed using his many woodworking skills created out of love, his greatest passion was for his Lord and his family.
In 1953 George and Emma Jean were baptized into the Seventh Day Adventist church in Alexandria, Virginia. He was an active member of the Jefferson Academy Seventh Day Adventist church for the last 42 years where he served as Elder, Deacon, and Sabbath School Leader. George was a constant supporter of the Seventh Day Adventist church schools through his labor, monetary gifts, and many prayers.
George was very proud of his Norwegian heritage. He could recite the Lord’s Prayer in Norwegian and lovingly told his family “Jeg Elsker Deg”, which translates to I love you.
Mr. Hellie was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife of 52 years, Emma Jean Hellie; brother, Roger “Red” Hellie; and Grandson, Jesse Roger Hellie.
He is survived by his four children all of Jefferson, Texas. Sharon Weir, George “Eddie” (Brenda) Hellie Jr., Jodi (Billy) Breckenridge, and Jana (Eric) Wilson. Grandchildren: Jacquie (Robert) Cartwright, Carlos (Laurie) Heeter, Lovee Jean (Bobby) Pinson, Tony Heeter, Joshua Hellie, Travis (Maggie) Hellie, Amanda (Adam) Turner, William (Lacy) Breckenridge, Amie Breckenridge, Austin (Angela) Breckenridge, Weston Wilson, and Whitney Wilson. 19 Great-Grandchildren, and 1 Great-Great Grandchild. Brother, Paul (Lois) Hellie of Walla Walla, Washington, and his two sisters, Virginia (Dick) Vannice of Albany, Oregon, and Janet (Lyle) Crowell of Eugene, Oregon.
Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons; Carlos Heeter, Tony Heeter, Joshua Hellie, Travis Hellie, William Breckenridge, Austin Breckenridge, and Weston Wilson.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Cypress Bend Elementary 2997 FM 728, Jefferson, Texas 75657 or Jefferson Christian Academy 3000 FM 728, Jefferson, Texas 75657.