Helen Patricia Carrell, a long time Prosser resident, entered into rest on October 20, 2018 at Trios Health in Kennewick at the age of 86. She was born on December 5, 1931 in Harrington, Washington to Jake and Lucille Ethel (Bixel) Schultz. She was raised and educated her first eight years on the Wheatland’s of Washington in Harrington and Connell and then on a dairy farm in Mabton. She graduated from Mabton High School with the Class of 1949 and then continued her education at Yakima Business College. In 1951, she moved to Prosser and made it her permanent home. She considered herself a “Valley Girl” and lived with the moto “Bloom where you are planted!” Helen and Jesse “Ray” Carrell were married on May 12, 1957 in Prosser where they raised their three children.
Helens first job in Prosser was office administrator at Prosser Packers for five years. She then worked as City Clerk for the City of Prosser for 22 years, retiring in 1989. She then came out of retirement and worked for Benton County in the Treasurer’s Office and served as Secretary for the Board of Equalization until her final retirement in 1994.
Helen loved to travel and made it to all fifty states and Germany. On “Road Trips” she would be the first one in the car and preferably behind the wheel! Her favorite saying was “I can be packed, ready and in the car in fifteen minutes to go to New York City.” She also enjoyed Caribbean and Alaskan cruises and a trip to Hawaii before it was a state. While working as City Clerk, Helen made it her mission to apply for grants that led to the Prosser Senior Center being funded and handled the bookkeeping to maintain the viability for it to operate. She was not only a member of the Prosser Senior Center but served as president, secretary and treasurer until recently stepping down. Helen was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Buena Vista Grange, Retired Public Employees and a Deacon at the Covenant Presbyterian Church. She also was a volunteer and Board Member of the Benton County Historical Museum and a volunteer at Hobbs. Helen volunteered to fill a need wherever her help was needed. Throughout the years she was honored as Volunteer of the Year, Woman of the Year, Grand Marshall of the 2017 States Day Parade and was awarded a Key to the City.
Helen is survived by her children, Mike Carrell (Sharon) of Prosser, Michele Hitzroth (Jay) of Kennewick and Pat Carrell (Tera) of Saint Maries, Idaho; grandchildren, Michael Davidson and Madison Carrell of Kennewick; great-grandchildren, Kelsey and Allen Butler; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jesse “Ray” Carrell; and brothers, Jack and Elmer Schultz.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 3rd at the Prosser Cemetery with a Celebration of her Life following at Covenant Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Prosser Explorers or Covenant Presbyterian Church. You may leave a message for the family at www.Prosserfuneralhome.com