Helen Jean Chambers Pate of Booneville, MS

Helen Jean Chambers Pate, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 20, 2023 in Booneville, MS.

She was born in Blackland, MS. She was the daughter of Tommy Lee and Lalo Van (Spencer) Chambers of Marietta, MS. She spent her final days in her Booneville home surrounded by family and friends.  Helen married her high school sweetheart, W. M. Bill Pate of Booneville, in 1948. Bill headed to Northern Illinois to look for work and then sent for Helen. She arrived in Zion, IL, after a long train ride with a bag of apples and $2.50 in her pocket. Both Helen and Bill worked at Deep Freeze, a division of Studebaker. She also worked at Goodyear. Eventually they opened up Pate TV sales and Service, which they owned and operated for over 20 years. Helen wore many hats. Among them were cake design, catering, business owner and a 20 year career with Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Reserve. She was well known and active in the community and a member of the Zion IL Benton Moose Lodge. She was known to work in her yard and garden from dawn to dusk planting flowers and trees. She loved spending time with her family and instilled a sense of humor and tough work ethics in her children.

Helen is survived by her five children, Brenda Roedl (Mike) of Teutopolis, IL, K. David Pate (Melba) of Surprize, AZ, Tricia Kennemer of Bowie, TX, Sue Pate of Kenosha, WI, and Wm. Brad of Beach Park, IL;  sisters, Margie Brosious of Belmont, MS, Ruby Ross of Whiteville, N.C.; brother, Thomas Wayne Chambers of Marietta, MS; (13) grandchildren; (2) step-grandchildren; (23) great-grandchildren; host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, of 61 years, W.M. Bill Pate; infant son, William Kenneth; her parents; her sisters, Louise Nichols and Trudy Voyles; brothers, Aaron H. Chambers and Hoyt Chambers;step-grandson, Tommy Donovan; (2) infant great-grandsons, Joshua Junior Pacetti and Evan David Niccom. 

Visitation will be held at Waters Funeral Home on Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 10:00 a. m. until noon.

 Graveside services will be held in Sumner’s Chapel Cemetery in Marietta, MS

 Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family @www.watersfuneralservice.com