Obituary for Helen Edith Lunceford
Helen E. Lunceford
Helen Edith Lunceford, age 92, of Basehor, Kansas passed away on Thursday, March 3rd, 2022.
The Family will receive friends at a Visitation from 1-2pm on Friday, April 1st at the Alden-Harrington Funeral Home, followed by the Graveside Committal in the Leavenworth National Cemetery at 2:30pm.
Helen was born on December 26th, 1929 in Wilder, Kansas. She was the Youngest of two daughters born to Joe & Catherine “Peg” (Elmer) Keeley. Helen grew up in the Wilder area and attended school in Monticello and Bonner Springs. She married Lilburn “Sonny” Lunceford on September 27th, 1951 and together they made their home in DeSoto, Bonner Springs and later Basehor. Helen loved all animals and especially horses. She was an accomplished Barrel Racer in her day, competing in the American Royal Rodeo and Rodeo’s all over the Midwest. Helen enjoyed sharing her love of horses with her children and grandchildren by teaching them how to ride and compete in Barrel Racing. She also taught clinics to the local 4H clubs on Horsemanship and Barrel Racing. She and her husband took over the Mobil Service Station in Basehor from her parents and ran it for over 20+ years until it closed in the 1990’s.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents, sister Josephine Barrett, son Michael Lunceford and recently by her husband Lilburn “Sonny” Lunceford in January of 2022.
Survivors include her daughter Gail Craun and her husband Tom of Basehor, KS. Five grandchildren: Angela McGraw and her husband Travis, Sarah Young, Rachel Lunceford, Natalie Orrick and her husband John and Ryan Craun. Five great-grandchildren: Trevor McGraw, Wyatt Orrick, Alexis Young, Lily Young and Cody Young.
Helen Edith Lunceford, age 92, of Basehor, Kansas passed away on Thursday, March 3rd, 2022.
The Family will receive friends at a Visitation from 1-2pm on Friday, April 1st at the Alden-Harrington Funeral Home, followed by the Graveside Committal in the Leavenworth National Cemetery at 2:30pm.
Helen was born on December 26th, 1929 in Wilder, Kansas. She was the Youngest of two daughters born to Joe & Catherine “Peg” (Elmer) Keeley. Helen grew up in the Wilder area and attended school in Monticello and Bonner Springs. She married Lilburn “Sonny” Lunceford on September 27th, 1951 and together they made their home in DeSoto, Bonner Springs and later Basehor. Helen loved all animals and especially horses. She was an accomplished Barrel Racer in her day, competing in the American Royal Rodeo and Rodeo’s all over the Midwest. Helen enjoyed sharing her love of horses with her children and grandchildren by teaching them how to ride and compete in Barrel Racing. She also taught clinics to the local 4H clubs on Horsemanship and Barrel Racing. She and her husband took over the Mobil Service Station in Basehor from her parents and ran it for over 20+ years until it closed in the 1990’s.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents, sister Josephine Barrett, son Michael Lunceford and recently by her husband Lilburn “Sonny” Lunceford in January of 2022.
Survivors include her daughter Gail Craun and her husband Tom of Basehor, KS. Five grandchildren: Angela McGraw and her husband Travis, Sarah Young, Rachel Lunceford, Natalie Orrick and her husband John and Ryan Craun. Five great-grandchildren: Trevor McGraw, Wyatt Orrick, Alexis Young, Lily Young and Cody Young.