ERICSON, Helen Margaret (Hawley) - b. June 26, 1929 - d. November 13, 2016

[patyrn]

Helen Margaret Ericson was born on June 26, 1929 in Howard, Elk County, Kansas to Harry E. and Clara M. (Schneider) Hawley. She passed away on November 13, 2016.

Helen graduated from Howard High School in 1947 and from Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas with a degree in Home Economics.  On December 19, 1948, Helen married Alfred T. Ericson Jr. of Quincy, Kansas at her parents' home in rural Elk County, Kansas.  They were married for 56 years until his death in 2005. 

Throughout her life, Helen shared her love of her family and her passion of quilts and history.  She was a Master Quilter and created and hand-quilted over 200 full-sized quilts.  She turned her passion into a 40-year business, and in 1970, she acquired "Mrs. Danner's Quilts", a mail order quilt pattern business from Sciota Imhoff Danner of El Dorado, Kansas.  She taught quilters, sold thousands of quilt patterns, and corresponded with a network of hundreds of women across the United States and around the world.  She wrote a weekly newspaper column on quilting for the Baldwin City Ledger newspaper and displayed her quilts at many quilt exhibitions across the U.S. as well as annually at the Lyon County and Kansas State Fairs.  In 1986, she was named a Kansas Master Folk Artist.  When asked which quilt was her favorite, she would always answer, "That is like asking me which son was my favorite child.  Each quilt has its charms, its problems, its uses, and its joys".

Helen and Alfred loved the Ericson family farm in the Fint Hills of Greenwood County, Kansas.  They traveled extensively and shared an interest in history.  For many years they joined the annual Southwest Institute which explored the American Southwest and Mexico.  She shared her interest in the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails with others.  Over the years, she provided many volunteers hours to the Kaw Mission Historical Society in Council Grove, Kansas.  Helen was especially proud of her early Dutch New York heritage and delighted in taking trips to visit relatives and historical family sites. 

Helen was a longtime member of the Emporia and Flint Hills Regional Quilt Guilds.  She was a 60-year member of the First Congregational Church in Emporia, Kansas where she served as church historian for many years.  Many of Helen's most prized quilts may be found at the International Quilt Museum, and her associated business papers archived at the University of Nebraska, both located in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Helen is survived by her two sons, Alfred Theodore (Ted) Ericson III and his wife, Phyllis of Lincoln, Nebraska and John Quincy Ericson and his wife, I-Lin of Tempe, Arizona; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.  She as preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Edward and Robert Hawley.

A memorial service was held on November 19, 2016 at the First Congregational Church in Emporia, Kansas with Pastor Andrew McHenry officiating.  Burial was at the Quincy Cemetery in Quincy, Kansas.  Memorials may be sent to the International Quilt Study Center and Museum, 1521 N. 33rd Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583 or to the donor's choice.

(taken from the Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home website)