Helen Koonce Ham

Helen EmmaLee Koonce Ham, age 91, of Natchitoches died Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at The Courtyard Nursing Home with family members at her side. Arrangements are being handled by Blanchard St Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday April 8, 2016. The funeral service will be at the funeral home chapel Saturday, April 9 at 11:00 am with Brother Perry Webb and Brother Thomas Rush officiating. Interment will be in Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA. Helen was born in Bellwood LA on November 21, 1924 to Phillip A Koonce and Elizabeth Montgomery Koonce. She was married to her husband, Wayman W. Ham, Sr for fifty years before he preceded her in death in 1995. Helen was a loving wife, mother and grandmother famous for her “tea parties” with her granddaughters. She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Natchitoches teaching the four year old Sunday School Class for over forty years, she was also a member of the social sorority Beta Sigma Phi and the Eastern Star. Helen also loved to spend time working with her flowers and visiting with her family and friends. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, her son Kenneth Anderson Ham and her parents; two infant sisters, Gladys and Viola Koonce; sister Eunice Koonce Nowlin; one brother Phillip A Koonce, Jr.; daughter-in-law, RoseMary Perkins Ham; and son-in-law Earl M. Gorton. She is survived by her children Elizabeth Gorton of Sulphur, LA, Wayman Ham, Jr of Natchitoches, Becky Ham of Natchitoches, Steve Ham(Martha) of Grand Isle, LA, Phyllis Day(David) of Jackson, MS and Cyndi Pool of Montgomery, LA. In addition she is survived by twelve grandchildren Michael Gorton of Houston, TX, Stephani James(Crawford) of Lafayette, LA, Christine Gorton of Sulphur, LA, Steve Ham(Monica) of Youngsville, LA, Emily Robertson(Shane) of Zachary, LA, Amy Fiallos(Roberto) of Honduras, Ashley Ham of Fairview,LA, Loree Collier(Shane) of Campti, LA, Courtney McAdams(Greg) of Kosciusko, MS, Meredith Davis(Michael) of Madison, MS , Katie Trouille of Provencal, LA and Jillian Pool of Montgomery, LA and nineteen great grandchildren Ian, Justin, Mason, Addison, Allyson, Hannah, Parker, Sydney, Emma, Michael, Aric, Arin, Molly, Colton, Carson, Cameron, Colby, Bryliegh and Branton. She is also survived by her sister Edith Ramsey of Zachary, LA and her brother Norman Koonce of Virginia. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Michael Gorton and Steve Ham; and grandsons in law, Crawford James, Greg McAdams, Michael Davis and Shane Collier. The family would like to thank the staff at the Courtyard of Natchitoches, Dr. Archie Breazeale and staff as well as the hospice nurses for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations or memorials be made to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, P O Box 4196, Monroe, LA 71203. II Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept my faith:”