Iris Irene Helphrey

Iris Irene Helphery, 87, of Odessa, Missouri passed away on Sunday, August 25, 2013 at the Golden Living Center in Odessa, MO. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 30, 2013 at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. Second St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524, with Reverend Terry Hodges officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the McKendree Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the McKendree Cemetery. Condolences for the family may be left at www.ralphojones.com. Irene was born on September 30, 1925 in Urbana, MO to Fount and Mildred (Johnson) Kirk. She was the Salutatorian of the 1943 graduating class from Urbana High School. On September 2, 1955 Irene was united in marriage to Donald Helphrey in Pittsville, MO, who survives of the home. Irene owned and operated Irenes Beauty Shop for many years in Odessa. In addition to the beauty shop she also worked at Lake City Munitions. Irene and Donald were members of the Bates City Baptist Church for fifty plus years until transferring their membership to the First Baptist Church of Odessa. Irene was a great cook and she loved quilting. She and Donald loved traveling to Arizona for their winter trips. She will be greatly missed. In addition to her husband Donald, Irene is survived by a daughter, Melody Kohout and husband Jerry of Keller, Texas; three grandchildren, Jake Kohout and wife Catherine, Spencer Kohout and Sterling Kohout; two great grandchildren, Ryan Kohout and Ashley Kohout; a brother, Fount Kirk, Jr. and wife Fran of Phoenix, AZ and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Irene was preceded in death by five brothers and a sister.