Helen Vail

Helen Allen Vail, 92, of Fort Collins, died Sept. 19, 2007, at a local nursing home. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Jim Paul officiating. Burial will be in the family plot at Russey Hurlburt Cemetery, Parachute. Helen Allen was born Oct. 23, 19l4, in Darlington, Mo. She was the daughter of Albert Adolphus Alexanderson Allen, and Gladys Patterson Allen. She graduated as a Registered Nurse from St. Mary's School of Nursing in Grand Junction, in 1935. On April 25, 1939, she married Carl Joseph Vail, Jr., in San Antonio, Texas. They had an interesting U.S. Air Force life with Carl's retirement in 1961. Helen was an artist, taught Chinese Brush Painting, was active in the Poudre Valley Art League in the 1960s, and was involved in the beginning efforts of the Trimble Court Artisans. She was involved in many organizations at different times in her life - a charter member of the Retired Officers Wives Club in Fort Collins, Auxiliary of Columbine Care Center East, Questers, Symphony Guild and CSU Women's Association. She attended St. Andrews Episcopal Church and was a member of the Order of the Daughter of the King. She was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi. She was presented with the Valiant Woman Award in 1990 from the Fort Collins Unit of Church Women United. Survivors include one son, William Allen Vail of Del Norte; four grandchildren, Alex Vail, John Vail, Emma Jones and Ananda Koromzay-Vail; one sister, Mildred Tapscott of Wasilla, Alaska. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother; and her husband, Carl. Memorial gifts may be made to Crossroads or the Children's Clinic of Fort Collins in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.bohlenderfuneralchapel.com .