Mary Helen Miller Bewley was born November 7, 1920, on the family farm in Melissa, Texas, to Lawrence and Lillie (Dixon) Miller. Her journey toward death from Alzheimer’s Disease began on that same farm in 2004 to 2005 and she died at the age of 88 on Friday, March 27, 2009, in McKinney, Texas on Friday, March 27th, at the age of 88. After attending grade school in Melissa, Mary Helen graduated from McKinney High School in 1938. She married Jim Bewley of Frisco later that year and together they raised 2 daughters, Jean and Margaret. During World War II, Mary Helen and a group of her friends from the Melissa and McKinney area were inspired by the “Rosie the Riveter” war effort campaign to form a car pool to work at a Firestone Tire and Rubber plant in Dallas making tires for military jeeps. She later continued her participation in the war effort by working as a secretary in the administrative offices of Ashburn VA hospital in McKinney. From the opening of her husband Jim’s business in Arlington in 1955 until Jim’s health forced him to close Jim Bewley’s Welding on Smith Street in McKinney many years later Mary Helen was an integral part of running her husband’s business. She also continued her employment in the public service sector, working for the Texas Department of Human Services from which she retired. Mary Helen was a member of the Melissa Christian Church. She was also a member and former Worthy Matron (1992-93) of the Order of the Eastern Star, McKinney Chapter No. 518. For many years Mary Helen served on the Board of Directors of The Melissa Cemetery Association as cemetery secretary and during which time she was very proud to be a part of the Melissa Cemetery’s recognition with a Texas Historical Marker. Mary Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jim; an infant grandson; granddaughter, Sarah Marihelen Staples; sister, Oleta Miller Airhart; brothers, Glen Miller and Bob Miller; brothers- and sisters-in-law: Fay Bewley, Jessie Bewley, Bessie Bewley Wilhelm, Ruth Bewley Copeland, Hoyt Copeland, L.G. Smith, Carl Wilhelm, Don Craft, and Wallis Airhart. Mary Helen is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Jean Bewley Boyd and Sam Boyd of Melissa, Texas; Margaret Bewley and Charles Staples of University Park (Dallas), Texas; grandson and wife, Marcus Boyd and Atorina Gevergiz of San Jose, California; sister, Mattie Lee Craft of Melissa, Texas; sisters-in-law, Louise Miller and Diane Miller, both of Melissa; and Catherine Bewley Smith of Bee Cave, Texas; brother- and sister-in-law, Richard (Dick) and Bud Bewley of Deer Park, Texas. She is also survived by a large extended family including numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held at 3:00pm with visitation one hour prior to the service on Sunday, March 29th, at Melissa Christian Church, 1708 W. Harrison Street, Melissa, Texas; with burial at Melissa Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to The Melissa Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 222, Melissa, Texas 75454.