Helen Louise York

York, Helen L.
  
Rio Rancho, NM - Helen Louise (Bond) York, 85 years old, a long-time resident of the New Mexico, passed away suddenly on July 8th at the University of New Mexico Hospital.  Helen was born September 22, 1930 in Napton, MO, and grew up in Marshall, MO.  Helen graduated from Marshall High School, the Kansas City Business College and was employed by Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company of Kansas City, MO.  In 1958 Helen was transferred to the Nevada Test Site (NTS) to support the engineering staff for Rover Project, a project to develop a nuclear-powered rocket engine.  At the NTS she met her future husband, Don A. York, and began a 55-year loving marriage.  She was employed by Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Co. and Los Alamos National Laboratory of the University of California.  Later she owned and operated her own business (Secretarial Office Services - SOS) and retired as a legal secretary.

Helen was a long-time active member of the Los Alamos Congregation and the Idalia Congregation (in Rio Rancho) of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Helen was preceded in death by her parents, John Clarence Bond and Janet Louise (Cooper) Bond of Marshall, MO.  Also preceding in death was one sister, Lois Ardel (Bond) Schmitt and her husband Lester Eugene Schmitt of Raytown, MO.

Helen loved gourmet cooking, entertaining, and traveling.  She and Don visited 40 of the 50 United States, 10 of the Canadian provinces/territories, and journeyed to 34 different countries.  They enjoyed 6 river cruises and 5 ocean cruises.  Helen, like her husband, loved the American Southwest with its beautiful mountains and deserts.  During their wonderful marriage, they lived 6 years in Nevada, 30 years in Los Alamos, NM, and 22 years in the Albuquerque/Rio Rancho area.  At the time of her death, she and Don were living in the recently completed Neighborhood in Rio Rancho (NIRR), a Life Plan Community.

She is survived by her husband and one son (Marcus A. York of Albuquerque).  (For some wonderful classical piano music, go to You Tube and search for Marcus York.)

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to your favorite charity or charities.

Memorial Service

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Daniels Family Funeral Services, 4310 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124, (505) 892-9920.  Visitation will occur Saturday, July 30, 2016, at 1PM, followed by a memorial service at 2PM, Peter S. Hughes, Minister, presiding.

Second Memorial Service:

Another service, especially for the residents of Neighborhood in Rio Rancho, will be held Saturday, July 23rd, at Haverland Hall (Room 4156) at 10AM.  Neighborhood in Rio Rancho is located at 900 Loma Colorado Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho, NM  87124.  Manuel Casias, NIRR Chaplain, will preside.