Helen M. Wayward

June 23, 1936 - November 18, 2020

Helen Mae Wayward aged 84 of Irons left this earth on November 18, 2020. Helen was born June 23, 1936 in Bakersfield California, the daughter of Helen and Jesse Reeder. Her father died when she was an infant and her mother later remarried Clarence McKnight, who then adopted her as his own. Helen was an accomplished musician and played the cello in the California Youth Symphonic Orchestra. She loved to sing and continued making music by playing the piano and organ while leading church choirs throughout her life. She enjoyed cooking, canning and gardening for her family’s enjoyment. Helen worked many years as the main secretary at Marne Elementary School and later as secretary at West Shore Community College in the Media Center. Helen also served as secretary for St Bernard’s Catholic Church in Irons in her retirement. Helen was very generous and loved the time she spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was very happy to teach her oldest grandson how to fish for trout. Helen will be sorely missed by her friends and family. Her legacy lives on in her children Carol Burba, Steve (Maria) Wayward, Pat Wayward, and daughter-in-law Nancy Wayward; her grandchildren Jessi (Dana) Wayward, Martin Wayward, Andrew (Andrea) Wayward, Angela (Jake) Miller, Ben (Katie) Wayward, Pat (Sara) Burba, and Joey Burba; her great-grandchildren Tegan, Logan, Madalyn, Shane, Carmen and Bradey; and her sister Suzanne (Richard) Arrants. Helen was preceded in death by the father of her children Victor R. Wayward, her son Victor E. Wayward, and son-in-law Joseph Burba. A memorial service will take place in the future when the world makes more sense. Please visit Helen’s memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to leave a memory or tribute of Helen for her family, or to light a candle in her memory.