Obituary of Helen Faye Sowards

Our precious Mama, stepmother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Helen Faye Jeffers Sowards, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2025. She was 93.

Helen was the shining light of our family. Her natural optimism and comedic talent never failed to bring smiles to our faces. In 1951, she married her first love, Buddy Jeffers, in Ferris, Texas. They were married for 25 years and had four children: Brenda Jeffers Damuth, Rebecca Jeffers, Tommy Jeffers, and Nancy Jeffers. On Valentine's Day, 1982, she married her last love, Jim Sowards. They were married for 27 years, and Helen became a second mother to Jim’s four children: Jan Khaldi, Ronda Caton, Leah McLain, and Andy Sowards.

Known for her sunny disposition and delightful wit, Helen lit up the world with her own brand of magic. She was a mother to both humans and dogs, an entrepreneur, an artist, an aspiring writer, an interior decorator, a social butterfly, and a gloriously playful flirt! She loved participating in spiritual studies and women’s groups, visiting with friends, singing, dancing, shopping at antique malls, eating good food, and enjoying wine. We will dearly miss her.

Helen was born in Grand Prairie, TX, on November 1, 1931, and was preceded in death by husbands, Buddy Jeffers and Jim Sowards; her parents, Lawrence Oscar Wammack and Hattie Victoria Hughes; her siblings Glen Wammack, Ophelia Couch, Nadine Dobkins, Jerald Wammack, Marvin Clifton (Red) Wammack; and her daughter Nancy Jeffers. She is survived by her children, Brenda, Rebecca, and Tommy; her stepchildren, Jan, Ronda, Leah, and Andy; her grandchildren, Phillip Damuth, Hazel Jeffrey, Will Jeffrey, Adam Khaldi, Jamal Khaldi, Windy Looney, Clare Rushing, Mary McLain, Hannah McLain, Michael Sowards, Tyler Sowards, Zoey Sowards, and Haleigh Sowards, and her great-grandchildren Cooper Damuth, Maverick Damuth, Ace Damuth, Parker Khaldi, Bowie Khaldi, Lucas Khaldi, Belle Looney, Anelysse Looney, Lily Looney, Elijah Looney, Adeline Looney, Liam Sowards, Isla Sowards, and Lucy Sowards.

At Helen’s request, she was cremated, but before she passed, she made it clear she wanted everyone to celebrate her journey home. “Don’t grieve for me,” she said. “I’ve had a wonderful life.” Unsurprisingly, she was dubbed the Shimmering Sparkler at Stevenson Oaks, where she lived for the last few years of her life.

In place of flowers, please consider donating to the Methodist Retirement Communities. www.mrcaff.org/giving Or contact Todd Partin, VP of Philanthropy & Engagement at 936-414-3994

From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank everyone at Stevenson Oaks (part of the Methodist Retirement Communities) for their care and love for our Mama.