HELEN MAXINE CHESNUT

LAMAR- A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday. Aug. 13, at the First Christian Church in Lamar for Helen Maxine Chesnut, 98, Lamar, who died Friday morning, July 8, 2022, at her daughter’s home in Nevada, surrounded by family. A visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 12 noon.

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniel Funeral Home.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to Champions Special Ministries, Inc., The Neighbors Center in Nevada, Himalayan Christian Mission or Lamar Sheltered Workshop, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include two sons, Judd Chesnut and wife Ann, Lamar and Michael Chesnut and wife Nancy, Neosho; two daughters, Cynthia Wynn and husband Bill, Nevada, Mo. and Alison Gromer and husband Michael, Overland Park, Kan.; 12 grandchildren, Beth Fowler and husband Jeremy, Jared Chesnut and wife Becca, Adam Chesnut and wife Candace, Chad Chesnut and wife Kim, Charity Solomon and husband Mark, Megan Smith and husband Andy, Kelly Wynn, Kristin Miller and husband Myles, Mary Beth Lynn and husband Robbie, Matthew Gromer and wife Amanda, Luke Gromer and wife Anna and Sarah Maples and husband Dalton and 23 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Earl “Bud” Kelsey, Jack Kelsey and Mable Letton.

Mrs. Chesnut was born Feb. 6, 1924, at home in Coal Camp near Mindenmines, third of the four children of Elmer and Stella (Applegate) Kelsey.

After graduating from Mindenmines High School, she earned a teaching certificate and taught in a one-room country school in Crawford County, Kan. for the 1943-44 school year. On August 13, 1944, in Mulberry, Kan., she married her high school sweetheart, Judd Allen Chesnut, while he was on his three day leave prior to going to California for pilot training in the Army Air Force. They had celebrated 61 years together before his death January 24, 2006.

As a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker, she loved gathering her family for holidays and other special events. She served each family over the years by helping them in numerous ways. Mrs. Chesnut worked side-by-side with her husband in his veterinary clinic for many years. She was an active member of First Christian Church of Lamar and enjoyed the fellowship of friends in various bridge clubs and the Lamar Red Hat Society.