Helen Louise Proffitt

Helen Louise Proffitt (nee Murray), born on August 5, 1936, in Jenkinjones, West Virginia, was the daughter of the late John Ealy Jackson Murray and Hattie Vivian White. She grew up alongside eight siblings, three of whom died in infancy, and faced the heartbreaking loss of her mother at the tender age of 10. Her father later remarried, and Helen gained nine half-siblings, two of whom also passed away in infancy, with three surviving her.

 As a teenager, Helen left home and moved to Maryland to help care for her brother Johnny’s children. Later, she and her family followed her brother Mel to Oregon, where they made their home in the 1970s and where Helen lived for most of her life.

 Helen devoted nearly 20 years to working as a school bus driver, a job she loved dearly. She enjoyed driving both regular and special needs buses, always with a special fondness for the students. She also drove students on field trips, forming lasting connections with the children she transported every day.

 Helen is survived by her daughter, Gwendolyn Edwards; her son, Keith Murray Proffitt; ten grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two infant sons, Timothy and Scottie; her daughter, Lisa Marlo Proffitt, who passed away in 2021; and her younger brother, Melvin "Mel" Murray, who passed away on July 26, 2024.

 Helen passed away peacefully at 1:55 p.m. on November 15, 2024, surrounded by her family at Brookdale in Troutdale, Oregon. In accordance with her wishes, her ashes will be scattered on Mount Hood, Oregon, a place that held special meaning for her.

Helen will be remembered for her loving spirit, her devotion to her family, and the many lives she touched throughout her years.