Helen Marie Dilley

DILLEY, HELEN MARIE Helen Marie Harchas was born December 14, 1918 to Dee Manuel Harchas Sr. and Myrtle Jane Harchas in Haskell, Oklahoma. In 1939, she married her best friend, Robert F. Dilley Sr., and they lived and loved for 49 years until his death in 1988. Throughout their marriage, the Dilley's opened their hearts and homes to over 300 foster children, from all walks of life,, offering these children the opportunity to fell loved and accepted during some of the darkest times of their lives. Even though Helen and Robert had two daughters of their won, Mary and Bertha, their home permanently grew by three more with Richard, Bobby and me, Dana, making the Dilley family complete. Although it seems that there are only but a few major events that string together the life of the woman everyone so lovingly called our "Granny", the truth of the matter is that the legacy that Granny leaves behind for all of us is anything but meek or ordinary. There was nothing that lit Granny's world on fire more than the love that she had for her family, her grandchildren and great-grand babies. Even during her final days, the mere sight of her of her great grandchildren made the very life in her swell up enough to hold them in her arms as she savored every last tickle of their butterfly kisses. Nothing meant more to her than the experiences she had, selflessly loving and caring for those that filled her life. The natural strength and loyalty that God blessed Granny with as a woman was only surpassed by her distinctive sense of humor and her ability to make you laugh! She was fun and spontaneous, tenacious and feisty. Well, maybe feisty is somewhat of an understatement considering that sometimes Granny just liked to fight, especially with me. And not even because she was angry or bugged about something, but because she just LOVED to get a rise out of me! For years, I thought she was afraid of water until one day I overheard her telling the physical therapist in the pool, "I'm not afraid of water,, I just liked telling Dana that." I was shocked buy then again not really all that surprised. And she was quick to let you know you were being an a**h*le if the shoe fit. Honesty isn't necessarily the best policy in certain situations but that didn't matter to Granny. She wasn't there to spare your feelings; she was there to help; you learn from whatever stupid situation you may be caught up in at the moment. And sometimes her best answers were "Oh hell!" and "God love 'em" and if God doesn't love 'em them Oh hell!" Some of her favorite things to watch on TV were the "Swamp People" and anything that documented the search for Big Foot. I can still hear her now...did they ever find that guy yet?? She loved cooking and baking and there will never by anyone else who can do it quite the way Granny did. One of her secrets to the perfect pumpkin pie was to leave the oven door shut until the timer went off so you didn't dare open that door up! Just ask Jonathan what happens when you do. And after seeing Rubel's obviously slanted birthday cake this year she couldn't help but feel bad for him saying, as she often did to him, I told you not to marry her Label, as she shook her head. Some of my most special times I had with Granny were when we would can tomatoes, green chili and make jelly preserves together for our friends and family. We would talk and laugh all the while surrounded by the sweet aroma of the fresh fruit and sugar. But looking back on it now I realize that what we were actually doing was preserving memories, those priceless things that are uniquely ours that once they are made, no one can take away. I realize that our entire lives were spent together because God wanted us, all of us, to be the pieces of her story, the one that ends happily ever after, home with our Father again. We all like little pencils in God's hand waiting to see what the next chapter brings. As for Granny, her story is like God's love, simply perfection and never ending because her spirit lives in all of us in ever single breath we take...how much more blessed can we be?? My Dearest Mother you will always be My mother so loving and so loved by me For God has taken you to be by his side Now in Heaven is where you will reside You have blessed my life in so many ways I will cherish our memories until the end of my days You left me too soon and this was not part of our plan But God’s wishes always come before those of man Without you I must travel the path alone No longer my guide, the way you had shown Your body may have been weak, but you were strong For you loving embrace I will always long God sent you to me as a special gift from above To teach me life’s lessons and shower me with your love I will always remember your beautiful and smiling face In my heart you will always have a very special place A special bond we shared like no other For this is possible for only Daughter and Mother I thanked God for each day we were able to share But without you in my life it is too difficult to bear Being with God, I know you will find joy and peace In this I can find comfort and some happiness at least For my Mother dearest you will always be My Mother so loving and so loved by me. I LOVE YOU GRANNY !!!! Dana

Helen Marie Dilley

December 14, 1918 - July 1, 2013