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MRS. HELEN "TOOTS" STALEY

By Joshua Smith

Mrs. Helen “Toots” Staley (nee Walz) passed away quietly this morning, July 1st, 2015, in her home in Batavia NY, surrounded by her family.  She was 95 years old.

Helen was born on July 18, 1919 in Batavia, NY and was the daughter of Louis W. and Gertrude (Lasher) Walz.  As a young girl, she loved attending baseball games and had fond memories of riding the train with her father to Cleveland, OH to see the Indians games.  She loved spending time with her mother in the kitchen cooking and canning peaches.  They spent many summers at Conesus Lake, swimming and sunbathing.   She was a 1937 Graduate of Batavia High School.

She attended Stephens College in St. Louis MO with her cousin Ginny.   Upon graduation from Stephens, she received a full scholarship to Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. 

One summer, while sunbathing with her girlfriends on the dock at Long Point on Conesus Lake, she met her future husband, Harry Staley of Geneseo, NY   They began dating soon after that first encounter.

World War II broke out and interrupted their courtship.  Helen went to work at Symington-Gould as a Steel Tester and Harry joined the Army Air Corps (US Air Force).  Harry and Helen were married on October 23, 1943 while Harry was on a 2 week leave from the service.   After the service career, they settled in Batavia, NY in 1956.

Her first son, Jack, was born in 1946.  Her second son, Don, was born in 1952.  She was a devoted wife and mother.   As an Air Force family, they traveled throughout the US and lived in many cities during Harry’s time in the service.  Helen particularly enjoyed her time in El Paso, TX and Colorado Springs, CO.

A woman of exceptional faith, she lived a life of love and devotion to her church and family.  She was a dedicated member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church Choir for over 70 years and found great happiness in singing for her church.  She was an accomplished singer and musician. Her family will miss her organ recitals and wonderful singing.  She was a life-long member of the St Paul Lutheran Church.

Her love of ice cream sundaes was legendary.  As a child, she loved visiting the local ice cream shops with her parents. She attended hundreds, possibly thousands, of her sons’ basketball, baseball, and football games.  She was regularly in the stands for her grandchildren’s baseball, hockey, and soccer games.  She was a huge fan of college basketball and was thrilled that the Duke Blue Devils won the National Championship this year.

Helen is survived by her sons, L. Jack Staley of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Don Staley and his wife Marcy, of Canton, MI, as well as former daughter-in-law Barbara Hale of Batavia, NY.  She was the proud grandmother of Alicia Staley and her husband, Stephen Mooney of Boston, MA, Marc Staley and his wife Erin of Batavia, NY, Jack Staley JR of Boston, MA, Christopher B. Staley of Miami, FLA., Matthew, Katelin, and Benjamin Staley of Canton, MI.  She was overjoyed to be the Great-Grandmother to Helaina and Luke Staley of Batavia, NY. 

Calling Hours are scheduled for Thursday, July 2nd, from 6-8 pm at H.E. Turner Funeral Home in Batavia, NY.  A funeral is scheduled for Friday, July 3rd at 11 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church.  In lieu of flowers, The Staley family has requested that donations be sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Helen’s honor.  Donations can be sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 31 Washington Street, Batavia, NY.

The Family would like to thank Hospice and Home Care of Western NY, Dr. Merrill, and Dr. Crofts and the many nurses  for their dedication and compassion in caring for Helen over the past months.

To leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle, please visit www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

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