Helen Standish (Howard) Roy

Helen Standish (Howard) Roy, 89, died peacefully at home in Nampa, surrounded by family, on August 25, 2023.  Helen was born June 24, 1934, on a farm in Emmett, Idaho - the first child of Walter Allen Howard and his wife Iva Helen Ax.  Helen's middle name "Standish" was an acknowledgement of her family's double direct lineage, to Myles Standish, a Pilgrim protector.
 Helen was raised in a simple but rich rural life, where there was always hard work and chores on the farm, but life was full. As two brothers came along, she helped her mother tend them; she also learned cooking and baking skills at her mother's side, lessons she honed throughout her life.
 Helen was a good student in her school years. She was a Member of the Honor Society, graduating from Emmett HS in 1952. She then married Otis Strang, and they welcomed three sons, her great joy. Her days were full as a homemaker, plus family and church activities, canning, gardening and many more activities rounded out each day. 
 Helen also sold Avon. She kept her earnings in bonds in a drawer.  She heard about a new LPN program, something she had always wanted to pursue. Going to her drawer, she had saved just the right amount to enter the program. Upon completion, she worked at Emmett Hospital, followed by over 20 years at Caldwell's West Valley Medical Center. Helen and Otis divorced. She met Stephen Roy in 1981, and they wed in '85. For their retirement years, they built a home with double masters, for guests but especially senior parents. The house was designed around Helen's kitchen, her haven. It sported 2 ovens, 2 dishwashers, and a tremendous amount of counter space. There were 6 refrigerators/freezers; one year alone, she froze 120 pies. They grew the fruit in her pies.  She was a prolific cook, but especially known for her Christmas candy, her pies and her breads of many descriptions.
 Helen was known for her kindness and generosity, and her loving nature. In turn she was treasured by many and will be deeply missed.
 She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband Steve; brothers, Walter Howard (Wally) of Meridian, and Ed Howard; sons, Douglas Strang of Emmett, Steven Strang of Caldwell, and Joel (Sylvia) Strang of Alaska; sisters in law Sylvia Herr and Lisa Roy both of California.  She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and many great great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 
  The family wishes to thank Dr. Mark Baradjiek and Dr. Martha Wilson for exceptional care of Helen during the final days of her life.
  We will Celebrate Helen at Potter Funeral Chapel of Emmett, Idaho on Tuesday, September12, 2023 at 11:00 AM following a private burial.   
  A memorial suggestion is a donation in Helen's name for the Iva Howard Music Scholarship at Northwest Nazarene University (623 S Univ. Blvd., Nampa, 83686).

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