Helen Hochderffer Hemphill

Helen Hochderffer Hemphill was born August 3, 1925 in Cleveland, Oklahoma. She died while residing at Cleveland Manor Nursing Home on Tuesday, November 26, 2002. She was seventy-seven years old.

Helen was the only girl in a family of four brothers, children to Samuel F. and Daisy Reddell Hochderffer.

She graduated from Cleveland High School in 1944. Soon after she married Harry William Hemphill. They had one son, Robert Michael ''Bobby'' Hemphill.

Mrs. Hemphill was a member of First Christian Church of Cleveland, where for many years she served in the children's music and education department.

She was caretaker of children. For nine years she ran her own private kindergarten school in Cleveland. When the kindergarten level became a required part of public education she was hired by Cleveland Schools as a teacher's aide at Westside Elementary where she primarily taught music. In 1988 she retired after twenty-seven years in the field of education, but continued to drive a school bus for several more years.

In addition to the local school system, Mrs. Hemphill's love for young people prompted her to help operate a ''Teen Town'' where teenagers were welcomed in a safe atmosphere to listen to music, dance and enjoy each other's company and years later worked at a local skating rink to again promote safe haven for youth.

Mrs. Hemphill maintained an active civic role in Cleveland. She was named a ''Friend of Education,'' ''Citizen of the Year'' and her leadership in preserving local history at Cleveland's Triangle Heritage Museum earned her the ''Oklahoma Heritage Distinguished Service Award.'' She served two terms on the Cleveland City Council, from 1989-1994.

Mrs. Hemphill is survived by one granddaughter, Robyn Anderson and her husband, Jim, two great-granddaughters, Kaitlyn and Lauren, all now residing in Italy. Also, a brother, Willard Hochderffer, of California.

Preceding her in death were her son, Bobby, her parents, and three brothers, Robert Hochderffer, Harry Hochderffer and Rex Hochderffer.

Although not related by blood, Mrs. Hemphill's close relationship with the youth of Cleveland led her to affectionately claim many ''children'' as her own. Among those she considered family were the Charles Rommel family, the late Terri Vorndran and her husband, Mike, and the Rusty Ferguson family.

Funeral services for Mrs. Hemphill will be held Friday, November 29, 2002 at 2:00 pm, at First Christian Church in Cleveland, under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery.