Helen K. Vance December 22, 1930 – December 18, 2018 Helen K. Vance passed on December 18, 2018 at BeeHive retirement home. Helen’s generous spirit touched many people. Renae Humburg introduced Helen with the following: “It gives me great pleasure to introduce Helen Vance as the recipient of the 2014 Mayor’s Humanities Award for an individual who has made a significant contribution to cultural and historical preservation in Sierra Vista for over 50 years.
In 2011, Helen recorded an oral history of Sierra Vista as part of the ‘Capturing Arizona Stories’ collection. The oral history is archived at the Arizona State Library. Mrs. Vance actively used the first library in Sierra Vista which was organized in the early 1960s.
Moreover, she generously donated many books to the collection. The books,which are housed in the fire department, were displayed on the runners of the fire trucks (unless there was a fire). Helen was the inspiration for the for the current Forgach House Domestic Crisis Shelter.
Her own home served as the original facility . As the wife of Reed Vance, the Sierra Vista Police Chief, she learned firsthand that there were many problems with domestic violence against women in Sierra Vista. About 50 years ago, she came home from a trip to Tucson.
There she learned that her husband had brought seven children home. There mother was so badly injured that she was in the hospital. The city attorney told them that for liability reasons they could not continued to use their home as a domestic crisis shelter.
Subsequently, a trailer was donated and Forgach House was organized. Over the year Helen has been an active leader in organizations that serve the community. She as been a member of the Sierra Vista Woman’s Club for over 50 years.
As a member she helped to organize the Sierra Vista Firefighters Christmas Food and Toy Drive over 40 years ago. This program continues today. Helen was a member of the Sierra Vista Arts and Humanities commission for six years.
She was instrumental in the building of the band shelter at the Veteran’s Memorial Park. She has also served in various lay leadership roles as a member of St. Andrews Catholic Church. In addition, she serves on the Forgach House Board and NAMI Board.
As you can see, Helen is truly an inspiration. For over 50 years she has made significant contributions to the cultural and historical preservation of Sierra Vista. She continues to provide service and leadership”.
We wish to acknowledge the wonderful care Mom received from Hospice and the Bee Hive nursing home.
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