Helen Louise Shroyer

Helen Louise Gmelin Shroyer was born on February 3, 1918 in Elkader, Iowa, the second daughter of Henry Charles Gmelin and Martha Laura Zahrndt. She graduated from Elkader High School in 1935 and received a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Iowa State Teacher’s College, now known as the University of Northern Iowa. She taught school for 1 year in Davenport, Iowa after which she married Lyle Clark Shroyer on June 28, 1940. During the war, they were stationed at the Naval Gunnery Station in Lexington, OK. In 1945, they purchased the Texaco gas station and dealership on Main St. in Eufaula. While raising her family, Mrs. Shroyer helped with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and the Summer Youth Program where she taught swimming, games and dance to the youth of Eufaula. In 1968, she went to work for the Dept. of Human Services, retiring in 1980. In her “retirement”, she mentored children in reading for the library, continued to teach dancing, traveled, and won a silver medal in the Oklahoma Sr. Olympics in the Waltz category. Her secret to longevity was to stay active in mind and body and keep dancing! Mrs. Shroyer was a 60 year member of the United Methodist Church. During that time, she helped develop a youth program, taught Sunday School, wa s a member of the United Methodist Women and until recently an active member of the choir. She is a 61 year member of Oklahoma Chapter T, P.E.O. Sisterhood. Over the years, she has been a member of F.L.E.A.S., the Wildflower Club, Eufaula Art Guild, the Friends of the Eufaula Memorial Library and various square dance, clogging and line dancing groups. At the time of her death, she continued to dance on most Fridays with the line dancing group at the Sr. Citizens Center. She is survived by her sons, Tom of Eufaula, Jim and his wife, Gail of Manhattan, KS and daughter, Martha McCracken and her husband, Larry of Eufaula. She leaves 5 grandsons, Lyle Jason Shroyer, of Muskogee, Joshua Penabaz, Aaron, Kyle and David Shroyer of Manhattan, KS; 3 granddaughters, Meghann and Maureen McCracken of San Antonio, TX and Martha Laura McCracken of Eufaula; and 1 great-granddaughter, Mikaela Penabaz. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister, Gladys Fehlhafer, husband, Lyle and son, Don. Memorial contributions can be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.